Will NYC’s New Trash Bin Policy Stop Rats?

New York City has long grappled with unwelcome residents: rats. With a population of around 3 million, these pests have been a persistent challenge for city officials, health departments, and residents alike.

The New Trash Bin Rules

To combat this long-standing problem, New York City has introduced a new trash policy. Starting November 12, 2024, buildings with nine or fewer residential units must store their trash in bins that have secure lids. This initiative is part of the city’s “War on Rats” campaign, which aims to improve sanitation and reduce rodent infestations.

These rules affect approximately 765,000 buildings, or 95% of residential properties across the five boroughs. The bins must be 55 gallons or less, in good condition, and placed on the curb after 6 p.m. Recycling can still be placed in bins or clear bags.

To ease the transition, the city has introduced a warning period until January 2, 2025. After this date, noncompliance will result in fines ranging from $50 for the first offense to $200 for subsequent violations.

Starting June 1, 2026, residents are required to use the official “NYC Bins“, which are designed to be rat-resistant and compatible with the Department of Sanitation’s new collection trucks. These bins are available in 35-gallon and 45-gallon sizes, priced at $47.26 and $54.60, respectively, including taxes and processing fees.

Will It Stop NYC’s Rats?

The new trash policy aims to eliminate the “all-night, all-you-can-eat buffet for rats” that has long been a feature of NYC streets. Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized that the changes are not just about rats but also about improving the overall cleanliness and appearance of the city.

To assess how effective this policy will be, we can look back at similar initiatives implemented in other U.S. cities and their effect on rat populations.

1. Baltimore, Maryland

In 2016, Baltimore launched its Municipal Trash Can Program, which provided durable, wheeled 96-gallon trash cans with tight-fitting lids to every residential address that receives city trash collection. The program aims to reduce litter, deter rodents, and maintain cleaner neighborhoods by effectively containing trash. The trash cans remain city property and are assigned to specific addresses.

This program offers the most directly comparable case study:

• Resulted in a 47% reduction in rat complaints from 2015 to 2018.
• Reduced rat infestations and litter.
• Successfully deployed municipal trash cans citywide.

However, it’s important to note that Baltimore has a smaller population (among the top 15 shrinking U.S. cities) and a separate sewer system for almost the entire city.

2. San Francisco, California

San Francisco’s waste management policy is centered around its ambitious Zero Waste Program, which aims to eliminate landfill waste and incineration. The city has established a detailed three-bin system for recycling, composting, and waste disposal, with mandatory participation required from residents and businesses.

The policy also includes innovative initiatives such as the Mandatory Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, large refuse generators program, and extensive public education efforts.

With this policy, San Francisco managed to:

• Achieved an 80% waste diversion rate by 2012
• Reduced total disposal volumes by 11.7% from 2015-2020
• Collects and composts about 650 tons of organic waste daily

However, despite significant reductions in available waste, San Francisco is considered the fourth most rat-infested city in America in 2024.

3. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago implemented a multi-faceted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that has shown remarkable success:

• In the late 1970s, four out of every five blocks in Chicago were infested with rats.
• The city provided residents with 96-gallon trash containers with rodent-resistant lids.
• Educational “rat packs” were distributed to residents. These contain information about proper garbage disposal and property maintenance.
• “Rat stoppage tickets” were issued to property owners who allowed conditions that harbor rats.
• The city switched to more effective single-feed anticoagulant rodenticides in the early 1990s.
•  By 2001, the rat population had dramatically decreased.

Chicago’s success shows how effective waste management, community education, enforcement, and targeted rodenticide use can be. Despite this, however, Chicago is still ranked one on Orkin’s Top 50 Rattiest Cities List for 2024 and has secured the top spot for the tenth year.

4. NYC, New York

In the 13 months leading up to May 2024, rat sightings reported to 311 declined in 12 of those months compared to the previous year. Specifically:

• In the two months following the implementation of new set-out times and collection schedules (May to mid-July 2023), there was a 20% decrease in 311 calls about rat activity across the city compared to the previous year.       
• Rat sightings decreased by nearly 14% in the City’s Rat Mitigation Zones year over year.
• In the Hamilton Heights residential containerization pilot zone, rat sightings plummeted by an impressive 55% since the pilot began.

These improvements coincide with a series of changes in trash management across the city, including new set-out times for both residential and commercial waste, containerization requirements for food-related businesses, and the expansion of composting programs.

Conclusion

The data from other major cities indicates that effective waste management strategies can significantly reduce rat populations over time. And based on the early results, New York City’s recent trash policy initiatives show promise in addressing the city’s ongoing rat problem. If NYC achieves results similar to Baltimore’s, it could reduce rat complaints to approximately 50-60% of current levels over 2-3 years.

However, these projections may be optimistic given NYC’s high population density and sewer system. With over 8 million residents, the amount of waste generated daily reaches approximately 12,000 tons. The city’s relatively old sewer system (60% of which are combined) also provides rats with a vast network of underground tunnels, making complete eradication difficult.

As New Yorkers adapt to these new rules, it’s important to remember that effective rat control still requires community effort. Residents and businesses play a vital role in keeping their properties rat-free.