New NYC trash bin rules start Nov. 12: How to buy one, what to do if you don’t have a bin and how much the fine will be for not complying - silive.com

New York City's new trash bins are shown Monday, July 8, 2024 outside Gracie Mansion. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)Mayor's Office

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Starting Tuesday, Nov. 12, all homeowners -- including one- and two-family residences, as well as small apartment buildings -- will need to adhere to new trash containerization rules requiring the use of official New York City trash cans.

City sanitation officials said there will be an 18-month grace period, running through June 2026, during which New Yorkers can continue to use bins they have as long as they are 55 gallons or less and have a latching lid.

Those who fail to containerize their trash and place garbage bags directly on the curb will be subject to escalating fines starting Jan. 2, 2025. The fines will be $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and $200 for a third offense and all subsequent offenses.

The new official trash cans, manufactured by North Carolina-based company Otto, cost $45.88 for a 35-gallon bin, which holds up to three kitchen garbage bags, or $53.01 for a 45-gallon bin, which holds up to four kitchen garbage bags, according to the city website.

You can purchase the bins on the bins.nyc website, which runs in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation.

The official bins come with latching lids, wheels, a metal bar for mechanized collection to compliment the city’s new rear-loading tipper trucks and a 10-year warranty.

The city had recommended ordering the NYC Bins by Oct. 1 to receive them by the Nov. 12 start of the new containerization rules.

Otto also lists same-size recycling bins at the same price points along with a 21-gallon compost bin costing $43.47. While separate recycling bins won’t yet be mandatory, the city’s growing curbside composting program, requiring the separation of compostable materials from trash, began Oct. 6.

As for why New Yorkers need the new pails, it all comes down to the pesky rats plaguing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

“Today, we are tossing even more black bags into the dustbin of history and taking the next step forward in our ‘Trash Revolution,’” Adams said. “The first-ever, official NYC Bin is high-quality, affordable, and will build on our efforts containerizing more than 70% of the city’s trash to protect our most valuable and limited resource — our public space.”

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What if my trash doesn’t fit?

Sometimes locals can have a bit more trash than usual after a party, other occasion, or just a busy week. According to DSNY, if that happens, you’re out of luck, and will need to wait for another trash collection day.

The department includes this message on its FAQ page about the new NYC Bin program — “Property owners and managers should ensure they have sufficient bins to accommodate all trash.”

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