First NYC commercial waste zone is operational

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has announced that, following an extensive outreach and education period, the first New York City “commercial waste zone” is now fully operational.

The first zone to be implemented is Queens Central, which includes Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst and parts of Forest Hills and Ridgewood. DSNY says it engaged in thousands of contacts with local businesses and sent mailers in multiple languages. All businesses have had the opportunity to sign contracts with the new authorized carters, and a majority have done so, the department reports.

In order to ensure that no commercial trash is left on the street, DSNY recently amended the commercial waste zones rules to allow greater flexibility in the amount of service carters provide to businesses that did not actively sign a contract.

RELATED: DSNY announces contracts for commercial waste zones

While DSNY collects waste, recycling and compostable material from residents, businesses are required to hire private carters to collect their waste, historically an inefficient and hazardous system, the department says.

Local Law 199 of 2019 was designed to overhaul the city’s commercial waste industry by establishing new safety standards for workers in the commercial carting industry, improving service for businesses, increasing diversion rates and reducing vehicle miles traveled to reduce emissions from waste hauling vehicles.

Under the new system, the city is divided into 20 commercial waste zones, and DSNY authorizes three carters to operate in a given zone. In addition to three carters per zone, there are also five carters authorized to pick up large containers from loading docks or large off-street compactors citywide.

The implementation of the first zone gives DSNY substantial new regulatory authority over commercial waste, but some new enforcement authority began with the start of the first implementation period in September 2024. In the last three months, DSNY says it has issued about 150 notices of violation to commercial waste haulers in Queens Central.