The city's Department of Sanitation is taking aim at the city’s notorious rat problem once again — this time with new rules mandating that all food-related businesses set out their trash in containers instead of bags.
“Under this proposed rule, all food-related businesses must set out any putrescible solid waste, including refuse and organic waste, at the curb for private carter collection in rigid receptacles with tight-fitting lids,” DSNY said in a statement Thursday morning.
According to DSNY, the proposed rule would not apply to recyclable materials other than organic waste, or food-related businesses that receive off-street collection.
“These changes are a part of the city’s commitment to cleaning up New York City streets and reducing food sources for rats,” the DSNY statement reads. “Food-related businesses are large generators of putrescible waste, including organics, and bags of waste set out for collection on the curb, even when in compliance with existing waste setout requirements, attract rats and vermin.”
Back in April, Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city's director of rodent mitigation, otherwise known as the “rat czar.”
“As New York City’s first director of rodent mitigation, I will bring a science- and systems-based approach to reducing New York City’s rat population, with a strong focus on cutting off the food, water and shelter rats need to survive, and ensure every New Yorker is prepared to take up this mantle in this fight,” Corradi said during a news conference when Adams introduced her to the public.
The DSNY will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule by way of Webex at 10 a.m. on June 2.