New Rules for Business Trash Disposal Begins in NYC

by Mindy Cohn

As of this week, all businesses with five or more locations within New York City must use a garbage can with a secure lid instead of trash bags for their garbage. 

During the first month of the newest initiative in the ongoing war against rats, warnings will be issued. Beginning October 1, fines will replace the warnings.

As previously reported by BoroPark24 here in May, the newest step in the series of ongoing stepping stones of new trash laws follows right after the exact requirements were made for food establishments last month. 

This change is expected to affect close to 7,000 business establishments. In the meantime, the Department of Sanitation suggested in a post on X that "It's time for you to...be a rat!"  calling on New Yorkers to be rats themselves, as reported by BoroPark24 here. 

The department also thinks it will help their cause if they publicly shame non-compliant businesses like this post yesterday, which came complete with pictures of the offense. 

"We expected more from you, @RalphLauren. We thought you loved NYC?? As a CHAIN BUSINESS, you are now REQUIRED to containerize your trash. And the trash at your "flagship" is out WAY too early, two days in a row! Many of NYC's small businesses are already following the rules..."

An estimated 5 million pounds of garbage daily is expected to be kept off the street and placed in lidded containers instead.