Slow Trash Removal Amid Criticism

Trash collection is moving sluggishly in the city, and residents are understandably upset.

Finally, an 8-foot-high heap of garbage near the residence of Mayor Zoran Mamdani was cleared on Monday. This came after neighbors complained, highlighting that while Mamdani’s home received prompt attention, other large, snow-covered trash piles scattered throughout the city were still neglected.

Mamdani mentioned that these peaks of waste, including frozen bags and debris, had lingered for over a week, thanks to a winter storm that dumped about a foot of snow only to freeze over during a deep freeze.

“There is currently about a 24-hour delay in garbage collection,” he noted during a separate press briefing at City Hall.

Frustrated by the delays, many New Yorkers voiced their concerns, particularly residents on the Upper East Side who were angered by the pristine sidewalks surrounding Mamdani’s mansion, contrasting sharply with the trash accumulation elsewhere.

“I know they’re doing their best to catch up, and that’s going to be a focus for us,” he added.

By Monday, the largest pile of trash, located along 79th Street near the mayor’s residence, had been cleared. However, additional unsightly piles remained. One, on East 88th Street, was notably featured in a recent news article.

A stack of garbage bags stretched 75 feet outside an apartment on East 83rd Street near Second Avenue, prompting a doorman named Brian to remark, “There’s more stuff downstairs, so I hope you can come today.” Meanwhile, a sanitation worker described the daily unpredictability of the job, stating, “You never know what you’re going to get. We prepared for one task, and the next day, it’s something entirely different.”

Health department officials reported that hundreds of collection trucks are operating in 12-hour shifts to tackle the backlog.

“Trash collection is about a day behind schedule because the same workers clearing snow are also responsible for picking up the trash,” a Department of Sanitation spokesperson said. “We ask for New Yorkers’ patience as we work to catch up.” They added that while they prioritize garbage and compost—stuff that smells—over recyclables, all types of waste are being collected, albeit with some delays. Residents might recall that, in the past, trash collection would halt entirely for weeks following a storm, but now they manage to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.