Rats Beware: Brooklyn Gets 700 New Trash Containers

Brooklyn's streets are undergoing a transformation as the sanitation department deploys over 700 "Empire Bins" across densely populated neighborhoods. This initiative, a key component of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan for cleaner streets, began with installations in Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Dumbo, Clinton Hill, and the Navy Yard. The program targets buildings with over 30 units, with full implementation expected by the end of the fall. This rollout marks the first time these bins are used for residential buildings in such a concentrated urban area.

The deployment aims to eradicate the unsightly and unsanitary piles of trash bags that have plagued New York City sidewalks, contributing to rat problems and unpleasant odors. Officials anticipate a significant drop in rat sightings, similar to results seen in a Harlem pilot program. While the bins will occupy an estimated 768 parking spaces, affecting about 10% of available spots in some areas, the benefit of cleaner streets is seen as paramount.

Buildings with nine or fewer units are already required to use smaller official bins, and those with 10 to 30 units can opt into the "Empire Bin" program. Recycling bags will continue to be permitted on curbs. The city plans to expand this program to the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island in the following year, continuing the effort to containerize waste citywide and improve public health.