The longstanding practice of leaving garbage bags on the curb in New York City for collection is becoming obsolete.

From Friday onwards, every one of the 200,000 businesses in New York City must place their garbage bags into designated trash bins, as is the practice in various communities worldwide.

This is the next step in the city’s attempt to reduce the amount of trash on sidewalks, which Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has referred to as a “24-hour rat buffet.”

In August, the city issued a rule mandating that restaurants, convenience stores, and bars use a durable garbage bin with a locked lid. This requirement was later extended to chain stores in the following month.

All urban businesses, even small local stores, are now required to adhere to this rule. Beginning in autumn, residential properties with nine or less units will also be subject to this requirement.

The effort to reduce the amount of waste generated by large residential buildings is still ongoing. Beginning in the spring of 2025, a select number of neighborhoods in Manhattan will be mandated to utilize outdoor containers as a part of a test program.

Last month, Adams declared that the city would introduce trucks in the future that can lift and dump big containers on the street. These trucks will be necessary to handle the waste from densely populated buildings. This is a new concept for New Yorkers, as they are used to seeing sanitation workers manually tossing bags into trucks.

Almost half of the daily refuse collected by the city, which amounts to approximately 44 million pounds, is attributed to commercial waste, reports Adams. This has become a major concern for him as he is dedicated to controlling the city’s rodent problem.

During media interviews on Friday morning, Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that city officials will be giving out warnings to businesses during the first month of the new mandate. The issuance of summonses will start in April and was also confirmed by Adams.

According to Joshua Goodman, a representative from the city sanitation department, businesses are only mandated to use a sturdy bin with a tightly sealed lid.

Businesses must collaborate with their designated waste removal service to determine the appropriate receptacle for their waste, as private haulers are responsible for collecting business refuse rather than the city.