Mayor Eric Adams is poised to leave office having overseen improvements to New York City’s cleanliness. Over the past four years, his administration launched a “trash revolution” aimed at removing overflowing trash bags from sidewalks and containing waste in bins. With Adams’ term ending this month, the responsibility for fully implementing this vision falls to incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani – a task that will necessitate significant changes to city streets and a potential reduction of tens of thousands of parking spaces.
A Shift in Waste Management
The city’s sanitation department, under Adams’ direction, mandated that all businesses and residential buildings with fewer than 10 units utilize secured, wheeled containers for their garbage disposal. This change reportedly led to a decrease in reported rat sightings and a visible reduction in the city’s infamous trash piles.
However, larger residential buildings – those with more than 30 units – will continue to place trash on the curb until designated “Empire Bins” are installed on streets throughout the city. Buildings with 11 to 30 units will have the option of requesting an Empire Bin or using wheeled bins for collection.
The Parking Space Debate
The plan to install these bins is expected to reignite a long-standing debate among New York City mayors: how to balance the need for parking with other public priorities. Previous administrations, including those of Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg, faced opposition when attempting to reduce parking availability for initiatives like Vision Zero and the installation of bike lanes.
A sanitation department report estimates that the new bins could eliminate upwards of 100,000 parking spaces citywide. City Councilmember David Carr of Staten Island stated, “Parking is a valuable resource in our city…I think removing more parking from the city is a huge mistake, and I would fight it even if it doesn’t necessarily impact parking availability in the areas I represent.”
Sanitation department spokesperson Joshua Goodman countered that it’s time to reconsider the notion of free curbside parking as a right, stating, “There is nothing in the Bible that says street space is for parking…It is a public space that has been designated in some cases for parking.”
What’s Next?
Incoming Mayor Mamdani has indicated support for the current plan. However, the rollout could face resistance, as seen with previous administrations’ attempts to reduce parking. Transportation analyst Sam Schwartz, a former city traffic commissioner, suggests Mamdani accelerate the process, citing a similar system he observed in Barcelona a decade ago. Schwartz emphasized the need to address the city’s rat problem, stating, “We are a city that is overrun by rats. The rats have figured out how to get into the plastic bags, and this is a good solution to it.”
Councilmember Sandy Nurse of Brooklyn offered a mixed assessment of Adams’ mayoral performance, giving him a “C-minus” overall but a “B-minus” on trash management, acknowledging progress in universal composting and containerization. She also noted, “If we want be able to consume and generate trash at the levels that we are generating, there are going to be trade-offs.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes have already been made to trash disposal in New York City?
The city sanitation department has mandated that businesses and residential buildings with fewer than 10 units put out their garbage in secured, wheeled containers. This has reportedly led to a drop in rat sightings and a reduction in trash piles.
How many parking spaces could be affected by the new trash bin plan?
A sanitation department report estimates the bins could replace upwards of 100,000 parking spaces across the five boroughs.
What is the timeline for completing the rollout of the new trash bin system?
The sanitation department has given itself until 2032 to finish installing the bins across the city.
As New York City transitions to a new administration, the “trash revolution” remains a work in progress. Will Mayor Mamdani be able to navigate the complex challenges of reshaping city streets and balancing the needs of residents, businesses, and motorists?
