This summer, Mayor Eric Adams introduced the “NYC Bin,” a new official trash can set to become mandatory for all residential buildings with one to nine units by June 2026. In the interim, starting November 12, residential properties can use any bin up to 55 gallons with a secure lid, with penalties for non-compliance beginning at $50 and escalating up to $200 per violation.

The NYC Bin, which became available for purchase in July, is priced at $53.01 for the largest 45-gallon model, with shipping included. The city also offers optional recycling and compost bins, although these are not required. City officials attribute the bin’s reduced price to bulk ordering, making it available exclusively to New York City residents. Each bin comes with a 10-year warranty and is specifically designed for compatibility with sanitation trucks equipped with mechanical tippers, which are expected to lessen worker injuries.

Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted the initiative’s broader impacts, stating that the switch to bins would “containerize 70% of the city’s trash” and deter rats from feasting on discarded food. She emphasized that nearly half of sanitation workers’ injuries stem from lifting, which the new bin design seeks to alleviate.

“This is about taking care of our working-class neighborhoods, where trash on the streets is seen daily,” said Mayor Adams during the bin’s unveiling in front of Gracie Mansion.

The contract for the NYC Bin was awarded to a North Carolina-based company aiming to distribute 3.4 million bins, with 1 million targeted for delivery by November 2024. For residents with old bins they wish to discard, the sanitation department advises labeling them as trash and placing them upside down for pickup.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)