New York City residents have reached the final day of carefree trash disposal, as starting tomorrow, they will no longer be able to mix compostables with regular waste. The NYC Department of Sanitation is set to enforce new rules, and those who fail to comply will face fines. According to NBC New York, these fines start at $25, and, accumulate with each offense, they can trek up to a hefty $300.
The city's trash landscape has been working towards this change since last October, when mandatory composting started making waves. New Yorkers will need to embrace a more eco-friendly approach by sorting not only cardboard and cans but also food scraps and yard waste. As ABC 7 NY reports, items like meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled papers must go into brown bins or any secure, lidded container on recycling day. However, residents should refrain from disposing of animal waste, diapers, or styrofoam in these bins.
The Department of Sanitation has kept it simple: if it's food, lawn clippings, or food-touched paper like greasy pizza boxes, it's bin-bound. Those living in buildings with one to eight units could see fines of $25 to $100, while larger buildings with nine units or more jump the stakes to $100 to $300 for repeated flouting of the rules. The department emphasizes that this effort is aimed at diverting waste from landfills for beneficial reuse, not just searching through leftovers.
In brief, New Yorkers must quickly adjust to the new rules. Fines begin at $25 for a first violation, increase to $50 for a second, and can rise to $100 or more, depending on the size of the building.
