New York City has approved a new rule that will force its neighbors to place trash bags in trash cans with lids. A measure included in the plan “Waste revolution” (waste revolution), promoted by Mayor Eric Adams, which aims to put an end to bad odors and rats camping in the city.
The news was so revolutionary that it made the front page of all the newspapers. “From today you will begin to see fewer trash bags on the city streets”“CBS News” announced. In the newspaper “ABC7NY” they commented that “all households in New York City must place their waste in the new containers.” It’s not for less They have lived without them for over 50 years. And its effects are already starting to be felt: “It’s really nice, no big smelly trash bags, no trash on the ground“There are no rats thanks to these guys, these are the new containers,” said journalist Michelle Charlesworth.
This standard will be mandatory compliance for all buildings with one to nine apartmentsor 95% of New York’s blocks. For those who own more than nine apartments, the measure had already come into force. Buildings that already use trash cans can continue to use them as long as they are 55 gallons or less (208 liters) and have a locking lid to keep rats out.
Nevertheless, As of June 1, 2026, buildings must use the city’s official container to facilitate “faster, safer and cleaner collection with rear-loading trash trucks,” according to a release from the mayor’s office. Additionally, although the requirements of this new law only cover waste and compostable materials, color-coordinated containers can also be purchased. green (for paper) and blue (metal, glass, plastic and cardboard).
This standard is the first to require residential buildings in the Big Apple to deposit their waste in a container since 1970according to the town hall. The mayor noted in the statement that, in a little over a year, New York will go from 44 million pounds of trash on the streets (19 million kilos) to 70% of the city’s waste placed in containers. . “And much to the disappointment of our rats, we have a plan for the rest (of the garbage),” he added.
In this sense, it is expected that from June 2025, fixed containers on the street – called “Empire Bins” by the administration – for buildings with more than 10 housing units, a project which will begin in Manhattan, which will become the first “fully containerized” district in New York.
The mayor of New York, who has repeatedly declared enemy of rats, he has repeatedly commented with admiration on the number of cities he travels to – and he cited Barcelona, for example – They have an efficient garbage collection service that also benefits from great citizen cooperation, and it has been asked why this service would not be applicable in New York.
