Sanitation Department Considers Drones To Enforce Garbage Laws

By Idy Perl

NYC’s Sanitation Department is considering some… controversial methods to enforce the latest garbage laws. 

According to the Sanitation Department spokesperson, Joshua Goodman, the department is thinking about using drones to monitor the streets from the skies to ensure that residents aren’t putting out garbage earlier than they’re supposed to or dumping garbage illegally on the streets. 

“Wouldn't it be great if there was somebody holding people accountable who are hurting your quality of life, saying to them, ‘no, you don't get away with dirtying these neighborhoods,” Goodman said. “You don't get away with leaving your personal property in the parking lane indefinitely.”

Others, however, are uncomfortable with the idea of drones monitoring residents at all hours, especially for enforcement regarding garbage. 

“I think this plan is garbage. It’s hard to put into words just how absurd I think it is that we're actually talking about a litterbug air force that is going to be tasked with monitoring people from the skies to swoop in if they're putting out garbage on the wrong day for pickup,” Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said. 

The NYPD has already been using drones for a few months to monitor protests, discourage subway surfing, and pursue criminals. 

Will New Yorkers start being monitored at all hours of the day from eyes in the sky? Only time will tell.