NYC Trash: A study in persistence

The development of waste management in New York City was a monumental journey from squalor and mismanagement to systematic cleanliness—a transformation largely credited to a post-Civil War veteran who brought military discipline to the streets.

New York City's early waste management challenges were severe, with trash and manure piling up in the livability of city streets.

New York City was a notoriously dirty and unsanitary place in its early history, with piles of trash and animal waste littering the streets.

In the history of New York City, the early challenges of maintaining clean streets were overwhelming. The city was infamously littered with refuse and what was colloquially known as "corporate pudding"—a mix of trash and manure that lined the streets, making parts of the bustling metropolis notoriously dirty and unsanitary.

Early efforts to address the waste problem were hampered by corruption and mismanagement.

Efforts to clean up the city were consistently thwarted as the funds intended for waste cleanup were often embezzled or redirected to corrupt officials and their associates.

The creation of the Department of Street Cleaning (later the Department of Sanitation) helped improve the situation in the late 19th century.

Colonel George Waring, a Civil War veteran, took over the department in 1895 and implemented reforms that dramatically cleaned up the city.

Involved in city planning and famed for designing the Memphis sewage system post-Civil War, George Waring brought his problem-solving experience to New York City. After his appointment in 1895, his influence rapidly became apparent across the cityscape. Harper's Magazine captured the stark transformation with a dramatic illustration, depicting a city reborn from its filth-ridden past.

Waring introduced new equipment and infrastructure, as well as a more organized and professional system for waste collection.

Colonel Waring reimagined the Department of Street Cleaning with a militaristic structure. His workers were recognizable in their crisp, white uniforms, which, although sometimes erroneously attributed to the renowned designer Jean Pau ...

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) faces monumental challenges in managing the city's trash due to its sheer volume and the logistics involved in collection.

New York City's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is the largest municipal sanitation department in the country.

With a team known as New York's Strongest, the DSNY has over 8,000 sanitation workers and 2,000 other employees who are dedicated to waste collection and other sanitation efforts. The department distinguishes itself as the largest of its kind in the United States.

The DSNY collects approximately 4.5 million tons of residential trash each year from over 800,000 apartment buildings.

The city produces about four and a half million tons of just residential trash every year from more than 800,000 residential apartment buildings, highlighting the immense scale of waste the DSNY manages annually due to the high population density.

The DSNY operates a fleet of over 2,000 collection trucks that travel 4.5 million miles per year.

DSNY oversees a network of 59 sanitation districts, each with its own garage housing a portion of the more than 2,000 collection trucks that the department maintains. These trucks cumulatively travel around four and a half million miles each year to ensure trash is collected across the city.

The massive scale of New York's waste collection presents unique logistical challenges.

The absence of alleys in New York City, which in other cities usually accommodate trash bins, forces sanitation workers to tuck trash bags wherever possible along city streets. This necessitates that sanitation workers manually collect these bags, a more labor-intensive process than bin collection. Despite the challenges, there is a movement towards adopting bins for trash collection in the city to improve efficiency.

The lack of alleyways in the city makes curbside pickup and storage of waste containers difficult.

This distinctive aspect of New York's cityscape necessitates that trash bags be placed on sidewalks, complicating the task for sanitation workers who must navigate busy streets to manually collect the waste.

The volum ...

New York City's Department of Sanitation workers face tough and dangerous conditions every day. Not only is the work physically demanding, but it also presents various health risks. Despite union protection, the initial compensation is not necessarily commensurate with the job's demands.

DSNY workers perform physically demanding and hazardous labor.

Lifting heavy bags and cans, navigating traffic, and exposure to hazardous materials take a toll on workers' health and safety.

Sanitation workers in New York deal with the inherent dangers of lifting heavy bags and cans, often under the risk of exposure to harmful substances. The use of bags instead of cans poses additional risk, as sharp objects hidden within can injure workers. Compact sausage bags are so cumbersome that they require two people to lift them into the truck. Street corner trash cans —weighing 30 pounds empty— often overflow and must be lifted by hand, with some routes featuring up to 400 cans. Lifting a 60-pound can into the hopper requires substantial physical effort, equating to 3.5 horsepower of energy from the worker.

The work environment exposes workers to unpleasant odors and potential health risks, such as exposure to harmful substances.

Beyond the physical strain, DSNY workers also face respiratory issues, particularly if they operate street sweepers. “Garbage juice”—a byproduct of compacting trash which varies by season, from the coffee-related to the pumpkin spice of fall—though not typically harmful, is a constant unpleasant factor that can become a distraction leading to more serious hazards. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant health risks sanitation workers face, evidenced by the number of workers who became sick or even lost their lives. This was not the first time, as around 100 sanitation workers died from illnesses contracted after cleaning up Ground Zero post-9/11. Additionally, a worker named Michael Hanley tragically died from exposure to hydrofluoric acid that was improperly disposed of, underscoring the very real dangers they encounter.

DSNY workers are protected by a strong union, but their compensation and ...

For decades, the private waste collection industry in New York City was fraught with significant issues including organized crime involvement and mistreatment of workers. The city is now taking measures to reform and regulate the industry.

For decades, the private waste collection industry in New York City was dominated by organized crime.

Corruption and exploitation

Historically, the Gambino and Genovese crime families had a stronghold on much of the private "carting" business in New York City. Their control over the industry led to corruption and the exploitation of workers.

Post-mob challenges

Even after efforts to reduce the influence of organized crime in the waste collection sector, many private waste companies continued to engage in poor labor practices and provided substandard service.

New York City is working to reform the private waste collection industry through zoning and regulation.

In a significant push to overhaul the industry, New York City has implemented a law to improve the efficacy and equity of private waste collection.

Implementation of zoning

A pivotal 2019 law restructured how waste collection is managed by dividing the city into distinct zones. No more than three companies are allowed to ...

New York City is undertaking significant measures to update and enhance its waste management operations, moving from traditional methods to more streamlined and eco-friendly approaches.

Transitioning from Plastic Bags to Standardized Waste Containers

The city is making a change from the use of plastic bags to standardized waste containers. This move aims to improve collection efficiency, reduce litter, and reclaim sidewalk spaces.

Challenges and Benefits of New Waste Containers

In a pilot program conducted in Harlem, the new system of waste containers led to a 68% decrease in rat sightings, showing a successful impact on rodent control and urban cleanliness. However, the introduction of these containers necessitates the significant removal of parking spaces across the city – over 150,000 spots – which has sparked political debate due to the high value of parking in New York City.

Expansion of Composting Programs

Parallel to the efforts in physical waste management improvements, the city is also focusing on the reduction of organic waste through the expansion of its composting programs.

The Impact of Composting on Reducing Waste

Food waste is a considerable part of New York City’s total waste stream, accounting for around 20% of its garbage. By developing an efficient composting system, not only can the city advance its environmental goals but also significantly alleviate its overall waste burden. This is ...