Transforming waste accumulation in Brooklyn: Implementation of garbage bins in numerous parking spots citywide
In a bid to streamline trash management and address rat problems, Mayor Eric Adams has announced the installation of large on-street garbage bins in hundreds of parking spaces across some of Brooklyn's densely populated neighbourhoods over the next year.
The initiative, which began as a pilot program in parts of Harlem, has already seen roughly 1,100 bins deployed in Upper Manhattan, with parts of the area fully containerized since April. The rollout continues, and the city plans to add an additional 1,500 bins in Brooklyn's Community Board 2, which includes neighbourhoods like Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, and Fort Greene.
The containerization effort has been a boon for Mayor Adams, helping him deal with rat problems at his co-owned four-unit building in Brooklyn, which has received several citations for evidence of rats since he took office in 2022.
Schools in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill will receive the bins this fall, with the installation in Fort Greene's schools also scheduled for this season. Residential buildings with more than 30 units will be mandated to use these containers once they're installed next year. Landlords of buildings with 10 to 30 units can either request a container to be installed on their street or use city-sanctioned wheeled trash bins.
However, not everyone is pleased with the changes. Rome Lockett, a Fort Greene resident, expressed excitement for the containers but warned that drivers may be upset due to the lack of space. As a resident without a car, Lockett mentioned that he would be upset if he did have one due to the space crunch.
The garbage trucks purchased by the sanitation department to empty the bins are equipped with lifts and cost $500,000 each. The bins can only be opened with special keys held by building supers or sanitation department crews.
The move to containerize the streets aims to get piles of trash bags off the streets, making life harder for the city's rat population. Kathleen Corradi, the city's "rat czar," stated that this would reduce the stress level, competition, and reproduction ability of rats.
The mayoral election in November will determine the continuation of the containerization initiative. Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner, has indicated that he would continue the effort if he wins. If Mayor Eric Adams is not re-elected, the decision about the distribution of trash bins throughout the year would typically be made by the succeeding mayor or the relevant city government officials responsible for sanitation and public services in New York City.
In Upper Manhattan, the bins replaced only 4% of the area's on-street parking spaces, sparking frustration among some car owners. Despite this, the rollout of the containers in Fort Greene seems reasonable to Lockett, who finds the rollout in his neighbourhood reasonable.
The containerization initiative is part of a broader effort to clean up New York City's streets and improve quality of life for its residents. As the rollout continues, it will be interesting to see how the city adapts to this new waste management system.
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