Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch are reminding businesses across the five boroughs that the city’s latest trash containerization rules have officially taken effect.
All businesses that put out trash for collection on city sidewalks are now required to use containers with secure lids. The city initially introduced the rule for food-related businesses in August, before expanding it to chain businesses in September.
Under the new guidelines, businesses are no longer permitted to simply place bags of trash on the curb. Trash bins must be placed on the curb either one hour before closing time or after 8 p.m.
When bins aren’t in use, businesses must either stow them away or keep them within three feet of their buildings. Fines for non-compliance start at $50 for the first violation, before escalating to $100 and $200 for the second and third violation, respectively.
There will be a one-month grace period before the city starts issuing fines. During an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Friday, Adams said the new rules have already improved the cleanliness of the city.
"Think about it: 22 million — 22 million pounds a day on our streets. It is just really impacting the visualization of the beauty of this city, and what the commissioner has done with what many thought was going to take us four to five years, we’re doing it in two and a half years,” Adams said. “We’re going to accomplish a real trash revolution.”
While some businesses have expressed concerns about the new rules, Tisch said the city has carried out extensive outreach efforts.
“We went door-to-door to every food-related business in the city before those rules started, we did information sessions, and we've gone door-to-door now with the rest of the businesses before this phase has started," Tisch said.
Asked how businesses would handle space limitations, given that some will need several bins, Tisch said the city “tried to make the rules incredibly flexible.”
“We didn't say you have to store the bins inside. We said you can store them inside, you can store them outside, you can store them within three feet of the property line. So, every business in New York City has to do what works for them. But it is certainly better than having 20 million pounds of trash bags sitting on our curbs every night from commercial trash alone," she said.
Adams said he recently spoke with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg about the city’s trash containerization efforts.
“He was talking about outside his barber shop, how there’s a location where there’s unsightly trash that’s sitting there every morning,” Adams said. “He thought it was a great idea.”
“It's about the beautification, and you feel better when you’re in a clean city,” he added.