New trash can regulations will go into effect in 30 days, New Yorkers are dissatisfied and worried about trash cans being stolen
During a recent community meeting, city officials announced a significant shift in New York City’s waste management strategy, spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams. As part of this “garbage revolution,” the city will implement new regulations requiring homeowners and landlords of small residential buildings—with nine units or fewer—to transition to official garbage cans by November 12.
The goal? To ensure that 70% of the city’s waste will be contained in garbage cans, rather than littering the streets, thus addressing the ongoing issues of trash bags cluttering sidewalks and rodent infestations.
However, the new rule has not been welcomed by all residents. Many expressed dissatisfaction and voiced concerns about the potential for these garbage cans to be stolen. Ms. Zhang shared her reluctance to upgrade her existing lidless garbage can, stating, “I plan to delay replacing it until the last possible moment. Who knows what policies might change next year?”
Another resident, Ms. Wang, reported that her newly purchased garbage can was stolen within two weeks. To prevent this from happening again, she had to mark the can and chain it up for security. “I saw on the surveillance footage someone taking it at four in the morning. Locking it up seems like the safest option,” she noted.
Mr. Li, who placed an order for a garbage can in mid-August, also shares concerns about theft. “I haven’t received mine yet, but I worry about it being stolen,” he said. “The sanitation workers come at unpredictable times, and they often leave the cans scattered about. If my $60 garbage can goes missing multiple times a year, that really adds up!”
In response to these concerns, Antonio Whitaker, assistant director for community affairs at the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), addressed residents at the meeting. He assured them that sanitation workers would be responsible for replacing the garbage cans after they’ve been emptied. “We will develop best practices for the proper placement of garbage cans based on real-world situations,” he stated.
Whitaker also suggested residents mark their garbage cans with their addresses or secure them to fences to prevent theft and emphasized the importance of reporting any stolen cans to the police immediately.
According to the city administration, once the regulations take effect, it is expected that a significant amount of waste will be properly contained in garbage cans, leading to a cleaner and safer urban environment. For homeowners already using personal garbage cans, they will have until June 2026 to switch to the official models.
