New York City is updating how it handles trash, and the City Council has passed a law that will continue the changes after Mayor Eric Adams’ term. According to Gothamist, the new “RAT” act requires buildings with 31 or more apartments to use on-street bins for garbage to help reduce the city’s rat problem. The plan replaces some parking spaces with large trash containers, a change that has caused debate because of the lost parking spots. The law allows until 2032 to fully roll out the “Empire Bins” across all five boroughs, giving the city time to implement the program.
As per PIX11, larger buildings will be required to use the bigger “Empire Bins,” while smaller buildings with 10–30 units can choose to join. The bins are secure and rat-resistant, and only sanitation workers and building staff with key cards can access them. The locked design is intended to help reduce the city’s rat problem. NYC Councilmember Shaun Abreu, chair of the sanitation committee and a supporter of the initiative, said the bins have made a noticeable difference in Harlem. The larger bins have been placed in Upper Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, but they need additional environmental reviews before being used in other areas.
Property owners may be charged up to $55 per apartment to cover the cost of the large, city-branded bins, with some exemptions available as outlined by the City Council. The Department of Sanitation said the fee helps fund the program and support its long-term use. “Once you get this going, it ramps up in speed,” said sanitation spokesperson Joshua Goodman, as reported by Gothamist.
