DSNY: Starting in fall of 2024 residential buildings with 9 or fewer units must use secure trash containers
NEW YORK -- It's being called a new front in New York City's war on rats. On Wednesday, the Department of Sanitation and Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the next phase in their plan to keep the five boroughs clean.
The mayor said the Big Apple is winning the war on rats and its keeping up the fight. The next step is to get trash in containers at nearly all residential buildings.
The Department of Sanitation says starting in the fall of 2024 buildings with nine or fewer residential units will be required to place trash in secure containers.
"It's good for aesthetics, how the city looks. It's good for cleanliness. It's good to fight rodents," Adams said.
READ MORE: Mayor Eric Adams: All NYC businesses must use trash containers starting in March 2024
The city put out a call to vendors to build and sell the bins, which must be rat resistant, meet certain aesthetic requirements, and be compatible for mechanical sanitation pick-up. The city said that will help speed up collection.
It says prices will be substantially lower than in retail stores, starting at no more than $50 for the most common size, which are designed to last 10 years.
"This announcement means a plan is in place to containerize all commercial trash and the trash from 95% of all residential buildings in New York City. And the last 5%, we are coming for that, too, and we will have more to say soon," DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
READ MORE: Mayor Eric Adams says New York City is winning the war on rats
Last month, the Department of Sanitation launched a pilot program in Hamilton Heights, and, as previously announced, all businesses, which account for about half of the trash on city streets, are required to containerize trash by March.
Resident Jonathan Scott isn't betting on the city winning the war, but he said it is putting up a good fight.
"It's helping a little bit for us," Scott said of the new rules about trash containers.
Other Hamilton Heights residents said they are also seeing a difference.
"Definitely cleaner because you don't see the loose bags and everything on the sidewalk at night," a woman named Iona said.
"People are gonna complain about the parking, but what can you do? Something has to work," Luis Negron said.
According to City Hall, this past summer, calls to 311 about rat activity dropped by 20% citywide from the previous year.
Bins will be available when the residential rule goes into effect next fall. The city said full implementation won't be until the summer of 2026.