Larger Apartment Buildings Can Soon Again “Opt In” for Early Morning Waste Set-out Times

December 28, 2023

Larger Apartment Buildings Can Soon Again “Opt In” for Early Morning Waste Set-out Times

Allows Building Managers Flexibility to Meet Building Needs While Contributing to a Cleaner City

In its continued efforts to reduce the amount of time waste sits on our streets, the New York City Department of Sanitation has announced signup will once again open for its Multi-unit Apartment Building Early Set-Out program. The program allows apartment buildings with nine of more residential units to opt in to a 4:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. waste set-out window, instead of the 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. requirement currently in place for other residential buildings, if they so choose.

The early morning set out times, created in consultation with 32BJ, the union that represents building service workers, gives representatives of staffed apartment buildings the flexibility to choose a set out window that works for each individual building. Along with earlier collection by DSNY, waste sits out for a fraction of time when compared to past years.

The opt-in period will be open from January 1 through January 31; interested building managers may access the sign-up form to express their interest at nyc.gov/multiunitsetout.

This is the second year that the Department has allowed buildings to register for the program; last year, approximately 2,500 larger apartment buildings requested to be enrolled. Buildings currently enrolled DO NOT need to submit another application.

After reviewing enrollment applications, the Department works to place these buildings on the most efficient early morning routes. Once approved and accepted, the alternate set-out time will be in effect from April 1 through March 31 of the following year.

Buildings accepted and enrolled in the program are then required to set out their trash only during the 4:00 a.m. – 7 a.m. window. Setting out your material at another time, such as in the evening, will be subject to enforcement penalties and your property will be removed from the morning opt-in program after two such infractions.

Visit nyc.gov/multiunitsetout for more information.