Mayor Mamdani Expands Citywide Trash Containerization

Six new Community Districts across New York City will have 100% trash containerization by the end of 2027.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:26am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a row of large, metal trash containers on a New York City sidewalk, with the containers casting long shadows in the warm, golden sunlight, conceptually representing the city's efforts to modernize its waste management system.New York City's ambitious plan to fully containerize trash citywide aims to dramatically improve street cleanliness and reduce the rat population across all five boroughs.Staten Island Today

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson announced that six new Community Districts across the city will have 100% trash containerization by the end of 2027, expanding on the successful pilot program in Manhattan Community District 9. This means that eight of the city's 59 districts will have zero trash bags on the streets next fall, with the administration committing to full citywide trash containerization by the end of 2031.

Why it matters

Containerization is seen as a critical step in addressing New York City's longstanding issues with street cleanliness, illegal dumping, and the rat population. By moving to a more modern, contained trash system, the city aims to improve quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors across all five boroughs.

The details

The expansion will bring Empire Bins, large on-street containers serviced by automated side-loading trucks, to medium- and high-density residential buildings in six new Community Districts. Buildings with more than 30 units will be assigned an Empire Bin, while those with 10-30 units will have the option to use an Empire Bin or smaller 'wheelie bins' as required for properties with 1-9 units citywide. In total, the Department of Sanitation expects to deploy over 6,500 Empire Bins across more than 3,500 buildings in this next phase.

  • The initial containerization pilot in Manhattan Community District 9 has been in place since last June.
  • Brooklyn Community District 2 is scheduled to receive Empire Bins this fall.
  • The six new Community Districts announced today will have 100% containerization by the end of 2027.
  • The administration has committed to full citywide trash containerization by the end of 2031.

The players

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the expansion of the citywide trash containerization program.

Gregory Anderson

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, who co-announced the expansion of the containerization program.

Julia Kerson

The Deputy Mayor for Operations in New York City, who spoke about the benefits of the containerization program.

Crystal Hudson

A New York City Council Member who previously passed legislation to expand containerization citywide.

Christopher Marte

A New York City Council Member representing Lower Manhattan, where containerization will be prioritized.

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What they’re saying

“In the wealthiest city in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, no New Yorker should have their sidewalks covered in garbage. By finishing the job on containerization, we will ensure New York City's streets remain the envy of the world.”

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani

“Containerization is a critical tool in addressing our rat crisis and improving street cleanliness. I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and Commissioner to build on this momentum and ensure this effort is fully realized citywide in the coming years.”

— Council Member Crystal Hudson

“Residential containerization is a mandatory citywide initiative, and our office will be working hand in glove with the administration and DSNY to make sure this rollout makes sense for Staten Island and goes as smoothly as possible for our communities.”

— Council Member Kamillah Hanks

What’s next

The Department of Sanitation will spend the next year assigning Empire Bins to all buildings with more than 30 units in the six targeted Community Districts. Buildings with 10-30 units will also be given the option to use the larger containers.

The takeaway

New York City's ambitious plan to fully containerize trash citywide by 2031 represents a major shift in how the city manages its waste, with the goal of dramatically improving street cleanliness, reducing the rat population, and creating a more modern, efficient sanitation system for all five boroughs.