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4 months ago
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WEST HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) -- One-hundred percent of trash in Manhattan Community Board 9 in West Harlem is now fully covered by containerization requirements.
It's a first for North America and on Sunday, the Department of Sanitation completed the installation of about 1,100 on-street containers for trash.
Bins are not shared by the entire block. Instead, the bins are assigned to individual buildings.
The so-called "Empire Bins" will service more than 29,000 households.
The goal is clean sidewalks, clear corners and fewer rats.
Since residential container requirements first went into effect six months ago, the number of rat sightings reported to 311 has dropped compared to the same time a year ago.
"When we said four years ago that we were going to have cleaner streets and fewer vermin, the cynics rolled their eyes and said, 'New York City is too big, government moves too slow, and no one will ever beat the rats.' But we refused to take no for an answer, and our Empire Bins are striking back at rats and garbage in West Harlem," said Mayor Eric Adams.
The city wasn't able to just go out and buy the new garbage trucks that work with the Empire Bins -- they had to be designed and built, similar to designs from the cleanest big cities in Europe and South America.
The acting sanitation commissioner also says it will be better for New York's Strongest.
"I've seen too many people get hurt from throwing bags or getting sick from leptospirosis," said acting DSNY Commissioner Javier Lohan.
The Empire Bins will hold garbage for large apartment buildings, but smaller buildings may still use other wheelie bins. Building management has a choice if the apartment number is midsized.
Despite city officials touting their success, not everyone is on board with the large bins.
"While these are more 'aesthetically pleasing' for the neighborhood, it does take away a lot of parking, creates a lot of chaos, especially in the mornings, and I see people end up putting their trash on the streets," one resident said.
All New York City businesses have already been required to put their trash in bins since March of last year.
If the Empire Bins go over well, the city says to expect one in your neighborhood.
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