NEW YORK — Starting Friday, enforcement of New York City’s trash regulations will be fully underway, requiring residents to secure their trash bins or face fines starting at $50. Despite these stringent enforcement measures, residents from Brooklyn are calling out the city for failing to uphold similar standards on its own properties.
Outside the Kings Highway subway station, located at East 16th Street and Quentin Road, outdated and overflowing trash cans paint a dismal picture of the area’s cleanliness. Linda Camarda, a Marine Park resident and retired business owner, brought these concerns to the attention of CBS News New York reporter Hannah Kliger. She expressed frustration over the conditions, highlighting the loophole where the city expects residents to adhere to new regulations yet neglects its own trash disposal standards. "We’re being held to a very strong standard, and the city isn’t upholding its side of the bargain," Camarda stated.
Camarda pointed out, “Clearly, these are not rat-proof trash bins, and they are overflowing all the time.” Her comments echo the discontent among residents who feel left to manage their local sanitation woes without sufficient city support.
After CBS News reached out to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), cleaning efforts took place; DSNY workers arrived to clean the sidewalk litter and replace the outdated bins with rodent-resistant models. While both DSNY and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) acknowledged the unsatisfactory conditions, they indicated the area might fall outside their direct jurisdictions. Nevertheless, DSNY has committed to monitoring and maintaining the location more closely.
Camarda emphasized the expectation for accountability, remarking, "They require us to be mindful and will fine us if we don’t observe and comply with the trash rules, and they should be required to do the same."
Local political representatives are also taking initiative to tackle the sanitation issues. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R), who serves the 48th District in Southern Brooklyn and is part of the Council’s Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, has facilitated multiple cleanup efforts at busy subway stations. Her office is currently exploring additional measures to combat the increasing problem of illegal dumping around the community.
A spokesperson from Vernikov’s office shared insights on possible long-term solutions, mentioning, "We are exploring long-term strategies such as an Adopt-A-Basket program and the installation of cameras to deter improper trash disposal."
On their part, the Department of Sanitation encourages New Yorkers to report excessive litter or illegal dumping by calling 311. This encourages community involvement and helps local sanitation departments keep track of issues as they arise.
The glaring discrepancy between municipal sanitation practices and the regulations imposed on its citizens raises questions about fairness and accountability. Many residents believe there should be equal standards applied across the board—after all, why should residents face penalties when the city fails to meet the same criteria?
With the stakes high—penalties looming and residents demanding change—this issue will likely remain at the forefront of community discussions as the fight for cleaner streets continues.