Following 21,510 Warnings in a Single Month, ALL Food-Related Businesses Can Face Fines for Failure to Containerize Trash Starting TOMORROW, 9/1/23

August 31, 2023

Rule expands to all chain businesses on September 5th, with similar one-month warning period.

Since August 1, 2023, food-related businesses have been required to use containers when setting their waste at the curb for collection – a major change to decades of status quo that fights rats and squelches odors. Over the one month period since the rule change went into effect, DSNY has issued over 21,000 warnings, sent mailers, canvassed door to door, and held info sessions for these businesses – restaurants, delis, bodegas, grocery stores, caterers, and more – informing them that they can no longer place trash out for collection in black bags directly on the curb. At midnight tonight, the warning period ends, and fines become possible for any covered business still not in compliance.

Fines start at $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $200 for all subsequent offenses.

Black bags of trash leak food waste and attract rats, and moving trash into rigid, lidded containers reduces the occurrence of foul odors and vermin. This requirement does not apply to recyclables or to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock.

The next phase of the City's commercial containerization plan starts September 5th, and extends containerization requirements to all chain businesses with five or more locations in New York City, regardless of what they sell. These businesses will receive a similar one month warning period.

Taken together, these two rules mean that five million pounds of trash per day – from 25% of all businesses – will be in containers and off our curbs.