The number of rat sightings continues to climb up in New York City.

According to the Department of Sanitation, there have been over 21,000 rat sightings this year so far — a 61% increase from 2020.

Department of Sanitation officials are “strongly” considering pushing back the time​ that trash bags are allowed to be put on sidewalks. The current time is 4 p.m. for overnight and next-day pickup.

Yet the department is considering moving that time to 8 p.m. to combat rodents.

Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch joined Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” Friday to discuss the city working on the Clean Curb pilot program, which is a collaboration with communities and the Department of Transportation to keep rodents off the streets.

When asked about rat proof containers, Tisch said containerization is “definitely something that will make a difference in New York City.”

“But the point is, the change in set out times is part of a larger plan to get the city clean. New Yorkers noticed that during the pandemic, the city got dirtier,” Tisch said. “And our plan to clean it up, of which the set out times is an important part, is showing some early, very good data.”

According to Tisch, the department is doing a 24 week study in order to have a “shovel ready plan” to roll out containerization.

“In large cities in Europe that have rolled this out, they do nightly collection of their trash,” she said. “In most parts of the city, we collect twice a week, sometimes three times a week.”

When asked about having residents putting their garbage bags into containers instead of the sidewalk, Tisch said they hope to see more increased use of containers throughout the five boroughs.

“I think as a result of these rules, rolling out, you’ll see much more widespread use of the containers in New York City,” she said.