New York Mayor Mamdani announced in April this year the continuation of the garbage containerization policy initiated by former Mayor Adams, promising to complete the citywide garbage containerization by the end of 2031 and expand the “Empire Bins” program to 6 new communities, including the DUMBO area in Brooklyn, expected to be set up by this fall. According to the administrative budget released by the city in May, a total of $14.8 million will be allocated in the fiscal year 2027 to promote related measures, with cumulative spending expected to reach $162.2 million by 2030.
Garbage containerization requires trash to be placed in covered containers instead of being directly piled on sidewalks, aiming to reduce opportunities for rats to access food. This measure has gradually extended to businesses and low-density residential buildings since 2024, with the latter accounting for about 70% of New York City’s garbage volume.
This policy is also one of the significant measures in combating rodent infestations initiated by former Mayor Adams. In 2022, the city launched the “Get Stuff Clean” program to improve garbage management, followed by the establishment of the position of “Rat Czar” in the next year, coordinated by Kathleen Corradi. She stepped down in October 2025, and the position remains vacant to this day.
Data shows that in the first seven months of 2026, reports of rodent infestations through the 311 hotline have decreased by 22% compared to the same period last year, with some pilot areas even experiencing a 34% decrease. However, the effectiveness of the policy varies across different communities. The rodent reports in the Brooklyn District 2 have decreased by 49% in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period last year, while the Manhattan District 3 covering the Lower East Side, East Village, and Chinatown has seen a 38% increase.
However, for some residents, the rodent problem has not improved. A 51-year-old resident, Arnette Scott, living in the Lower East Side, mentioned that her 2014 Toyota Corolla parked on the roadside was bitten by rats multiple times, causing headlight malfunctions and requiring repairs three times, costing nearly $1,000.
Scott believes that the extensive construction activities in Lower East Side in recent years have disrupted underground rat burrows, and with many buildings having restaurants on the ground floor, rats still find it easy to access food. She says that improving garbage management is essential but not enough to completely solve New York City’s rodent infestation issues.