For the past 50 years, New York City residents have been accustomed to disposing of their trash by placing plastic bags filled with garbage directly on the sidewalks. This practice often led to leakages and spills, creating litter on the streets and attracting rats. However, a new regulation now requires residents to use covered bins for their trash, a significant departure from the city's traditional method.
The mandate, which came into effect earlier this month for residential buildings with fewer than 10 units and earlier this year for businesses, aims to address the longstanding issue of unsightly and unsanitary trash piles in the city. With an estimated 44 million pounds of waste generated daily in the city, the transition to bins is seen as a crucial step towards improving cleanliness and reducing rat infestations.
While the move towards bin usage may seem commonplace in other cities, it marks a revolutionary shift for New York City, where trash bags have been the norm since the sanitation workers' strike in 1968. Plastic bags replaced metal cans due to their convenience and cleanliness, but they also contributed to the proliferation of trash bag mounds on sidewalks.
The new bin requirement, part of Mayor Eric Adams' efforts to combat the city's rat problem, presents challenges such as storage space for bins in densely populated areas and the logistical task of managing bin collection. Some residents have expressed concerns about the additional responsibilities and costs associated with the new system.
Despite initial resistance and logistical hurdles, city officials believe that the transition to bins will ultimately lead to cleaner streets and a more efficient waste collection process. While fines for non-compliance will be enforced starting January 2, officials are optimistic that New Yorkers will adapt to the new trash disposal regulations for the greater benefit of the city's cleanliness and public health.
