Issues Surrounding New Trash Cans in New York City

There seems to be quite a bit of frustration regarding the new trash cans in New York City.

As residents scramble to obtain the required official trash cans—only to find them in short supply—or face potential fines, the sole manufacturer allowed to produce these cans has surprisingly exited the city.

A former employee of Otto Environmental Systems shared that the company closed its New York operations after City Hall withdrew a request for a price hike on its NYC Bins brand.

At the same time, many residents are voicing complaints about having paid $50 for their trash cans, yet not receiving them.

“The agreements outlined in the contract never came to fruition,” remarked a former employee who preferred to remain unnamed. “We were losing money every week.”

Homeowners in buildings with one to nine units have until June 2026 to start using these trash cans or could face penalties. This rollout is part of a larger initiative targeting approximately 765,000 small homes.

Although Otto didn’t receive direct payment through the exclusivity deal, it was evident that sales from buyers were insufficient. Consequently, the company requested the Sanitation Department to increase the price by $25 to $30.

The city declined, resulting in the company’s departure, according to former staff members.

“On the Thursday before Thanksgiving, we got a call to shut down operations, let go of drivers and warehouse staff, and vacate the building by the holiday,” a former employee explained.

Afterward, Mr. Otto halted local storage and deliveries and returned the remaining inventory back to a warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, former staff indicated.

An Otto spokesperson confirmed the closure and layoffs occurred after the price request was rejected.

Otto also suggested that the city handle billing for the trash cans via property taxes—similar to practices in other cities instead of having residents order directly. This method could have led to more deliveries in a single trip, ultimately lowering delivery costs.

However, the city maintained that a change wasn’t necessary.

“The program’s structure was clear from the outset. New Yorkers have been directly purchasing trash cans, and Otto made a bid on that,” a spokesperson from the Sanitation Department stated.

Former employees estimate that about 1 million bins were delivered to approximately 400,000 households—a figure confirmed by the Department of Sanitation. Yet, many of the roughly 20,000 New Yorkers who ordered and paid still lack their bins.

As previously reported, the city is now warning that residents not purchasing bins could face fines, even amid the challenges of online ordering. This has sparked criticism from a city council member.

“It’s unreasonable to enforce compliance if residents cannot acquire the needed products,” Staten Island City Councilman Frank Morano expressed. “I’m not sure how this vendor was selected, but it’s clear the deployment had issues, from management to sudden disappearances without deliveries or payments.” He also noted that older residents and those without vehicles struggle to reach hardware stores that sell trash cans.

The Department of Sanitation mentioned that “approximately half” of households in one- to nine-unit buildings have bought trash cans, continuing to warn those who haven’t will be subject to fines.

Otto plans to keep manufacturing trash cans, selling them through home improvement stores, according to the spokesperson. However, Morano pointed out that limited stock in the city’s hardware stores makes it challenging for residents to find these products, and online delivery options can exacerbate costs.

“This is genuinely troubling. The city is enforcing requirements, but residents lack access to the necessary products,” Morano added. “We’re receiving more calls daily from voters in this predicament.”