DSNY Containerization: How NYC Ends Black Trash Bags
Joshua Goodman explains how NYC mapped 70,000 blocks to replace curbside trash bags with the DSNY 3-Tier Residential Containerization Model.
This Is How New York City Takes Out Its Trash
Joshua Goodman, Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs and Customer Experience at the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), joins hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway to unpack the logistics of collecting and exporting 24 million pounds of daily waste. Goodman details the city's transition away from curbside black plastic bags toward containerization, the design of custom automated side-loader trucks, and why New York City's recycling program defies common skepticism.
Key takeaways
- New York City handles 24 million pounds of residential waste daily, moving it off curbs through the first large-scale containerization effort in North America. Read more →
- Half of all line-of-duty injuries among New York City sanitation workers are sprains and strains caused by throwing trash bags by hand. Read more →
- The New York City Department of Sanitation collects and exports 24 million pounds of waste every day without rear alleys to stage it. Read more →
- New York City manages 24 million pounds of daily waste and locks in beneficial reuse through binding, long-term vendor contracts. Read more →
4 articles from this episode
How DSNY Built a Custom Garbage Truck in 10 Months
NYC sanitation cut a 5-year truck build to 10 months to eliminate worker injuries and containerize 24 million pounds of daily trash.
New York Chose Sidewalk Trash Bags to Maximize Real Estate in 1811
New York City collects 24 million pounds of daily waste from sidewalks because an 1811 grid plan eliminated alleys and a 1968 strike brought plastic bags.
Why NYC Recycling Survived When Other Cities Failed
Joshua Goodman explains how NYC used dual-stream sorting and long-term contracts to keep recycling viable while other cities collapsed.
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