Dept. of Sanitation to Regulate Commercial Waste Pickup

C.G. Hoffman

The NYC Sanitation Department has announced that it is implementing the first step of its ambitious plan to overhaul the way commercial waste is collected in NYC. While the Dept. of Sanitation collects trash from residents, businesses are required to hire private, commercial sanitation companies to haul away their trash. However, in many areas of the city, the system was inefficient, and in some cases, hazardous.

The new system aims to reform current practices by establishing new safety standards for workers, improving service for businesses and reducing vehicle miles traveled. The Sanitation Department has established new, no-cost contracts with commercial sanitation companies directly, in order to meet the goals established by Local Law 199.

The selected commercial sanitation companies are then authorized to operate in one of twenty “Commercial Waste Zones” within the five boroughs and will operate under the regulations laid out by the department. Three companies have been selected for each zone for businesses to choose from, therefore allowing for competitive pricing.

Carters will be required to install enhanced safety equipment to protect their workers, and are also required to provide worker safety training. Another component of the program will be to incentivize businesses to recycle, by requiring carting companies to charge less for hauling away recyclable waste, allowing for businesses to save money while reducing material destined for landfills.

The first zone is being launched the fall of 2024 in Queens, including the neighborhoods of Jacson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst.