Proposed rules for New York City's trash aim to clean up streets and combat the city's rat infestation by cutting down on the animals' food supply.
Beginning on April 1, 2023, New York City residents would be allowed to place their trash bags on the side of the road at 8 p.m., Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Sanitation announced Monday. The city currently allows people to place their trash on roadsides after 4 p.m., which lets the trash sit on the roadside for possibly over 14 hours, according to a press release.
"Bags of trash sitting on the curb for hours have hurt our city's recovery for too long and is one of the most indelible images of New York, but, today, we're saying enough is enough by making a generations-overdue change that will have a real impact on the cleanliness of our streets," Adams said."By drastically reducing the amount of time that black bags can sit on our curb, we're not just catching up with other cities but surpassing them and leading the nation again.
Businesses will also not be allowed to place trash at the side of the road until 8 p.m. under the proposed rules. Alternatively, businesses could place their trash outside in a secure container one hour before they close. "The time to do this was really in the 1970s when the city banned residential incinerators and created the modern black bag regime, but the second-best time is right now, when our city's recovery hangs in the balance," said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch."New Yorkers want the streets cleaned up, and seeing the bags for a few hours a day instead of more than half the day will make a huge, huge difference.
The proposed rules are subject to public comment under the City Administrative Procedure Act, and the comment period will be open until Nov. 10. Then, a public hearing on the rules will be held on Nov. 10 at 9:30 a.m.