DSNY to Implement Commercial Waste Reform

While the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collects trash, recycling, and compostable material from residents, businesses must use private carters to collect waste. On January 30, 2024, DSNY announced details about the implementation of a new commercial waste reform that is required to follow Local Law 199 of 2019. The law is meant to reform the existing commercial carting industry by providing new safety standards for workers in the commercial carting industry, improving service for businesses, increasing diversion rates, and reducing vehicle miles traveled.

The program will launch in the first zone (Queens Central) in fall 2024. DSNY will use this pilot zone to inform the rollout plan for the rest of the zones. As part of the reform, DSNY selected three carters in each of the City’s 20 zones to provide small businesses with service choice and competitive pricing (find an alternative map on DSNY's Commercial Waste Zones website). DSNY also established contracts with five carters to operate citywide to pick up containerized waste from compactors and businesses that have loading docks. Awardees are listed here by zone; the Lincoln Square BID is located within the Manhattan West Zone, which will be serviced by Action Carting Environmental Services, Inc., Classic Recycling New York Corp., and Waste Connections of New York, Inc.

We look forward to its eventual implementation in Lincoln Square, and will share more information once available. 

Learn more on www.nyc.gov/cwz and read DSNY’s full press release here.

Photo Credit: DSNY