Adams Marks Major Milestones in NYC’s War on Trash and Rats

Mayor Eric Adams and DSNY Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan announced significant progress in the city’s “Trash Revolution,” aimed at reducing litter and tackling New York’s rat problem. Since its creation in April 2023, the DSNY Highway Unit has cleared more than 15 million pounds of debris from highway shoulders and medians. The dedicated team, equipped with specialized vehicles, continues daily cleanups of items ranging from car parts to fast-food packaging, improving both safety and appearance along the city’s 1,100 miles of highways.

The administration’s containerization push has also gained traction among residents. Nearly a year before the official June 2026 deadline for smaller residential buildings, New Yorkers have already purchased over 880,000 city-approved bins — more than 800,000 through the city’s website and another 80,000 at Home Depot. Designed to be durable, affordable, and rat-resistant, the bins represent a key step in removing black garbage bags from sidewalks and keeping waste secured until pickup.

Officials say the impact is already visible. Rat sightings reported to 311 have dropped for eight straight months since the new rules took effect, with year-to-date reports showing a 16.4 percent decline citywide. Mayor Adams called the achievements “three major milestones” in his administration’s efforts to deliver a cleaner, more livable city, while Acting Commissioner Lojan praised the progress as the cleanest the city has been in a generation.

photos: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office