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By:David Ben Hooren
On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed a significant shift in New York City’s approach to waste management, revealing the city’s first official individual trash container, The NY Post reported
This move marks a crucial step towards addressing the city’s persistent rat infestation and aims to modernize waste disposal practices for small residential buildings, including brownstones.
Starting November 12, structures with one to nine residential units will be required to dispose of their trash in containers.
By June 1, 2026, these buildings must adopt the new lidded, rolling containers, aptly named the NYC Bin, which will cost around $50 each. Mayor Adams demonstrated the functionality of these bins during a press conference outside Gracie Mansion, emphasizing their role in the city’s “trash revolution.”
“Many people thought it was impossible that these babies here, the bins, were going to be part of our trash revolution,” Adams declared as he showcased one of the new containers, symbolically placing a black plastic garbage bag inside. “We are only catching up to what other municipalities around the globe are currently doing.”
The new policy is part of a broader initiative to improve waste management and reduce the rat population in New York City. The rat problem has been a longstanding issue, exacerbated by the city’s previous reliance on piles of black plastic garbage bags left on sidewalks and street corners. These bags often leak and attract rodents, creating unsightly and unsanitary conditions.
Adams’ announcement is part of a phased plan to modernize waste disposal across the city. Following the initial implementation for smaller buildings, residential structures with 10 to 30 units will also be required to use official bins or dumpsters. Buildings with more than 30 units will need to adopt dumpsters for their trash disposal. Additionally, all city businesses are already mandated to use containers for their waste.
Under the new rule, starting November 12, approximately 70 percent of New York City’s 14 billion pounds of annual garbage will be contained, significantly reducing the visible and olfactory impact of waste on the city’s streets. “Think about it: That’s over 10 billion pounds of trash each year that we won’t see or smell,” Adams said, highlighting the anticipated improvements in city cleanliness and hygiene.
New York City has long struggled with its rat infestation, a problem that has only intensified in recent years. The rodents thrive in urban environments, particularly in areas with abundant food sources and shelter, such as piles of uncontained garbage. The city’s densely populated neighborhoods and high volume of waste have made it a prime breeding ground for rats, leading to health concerns and negative impacts on residents’ quality of life.
Mayor Adams and the city’s Sanitation Department have taken incremental steps to combat the issue. These measures include changing the times for garbage collection.
