The city needs to revise its current trash set-out time to better accommodate residents, especially seniors, who may struggle to take out their garbage and recycling after dark.
Currently, the city allows trash and recycling in containers with secure lids to be put out at 6:00pm, the evening prior to pick-up. As of November, city ordinances also require that all garbage except recycling be in lidded receptacles, with kitchen waste, which is attractive to rats, in its own lidded trash receptacle. Recycling may still be put out at the curb in clear plastic bags; however, if disposed of that way, it may not be put out until after 8:00pm year-round.
Although I applaud the city’s efforts to combat rodents, the current rules do not take into account the difficulties that many residents have with the policy. In the summer, it’s doable, because it’s still light out at 8:00pm. However, when it gets dark early in the winter months, it is difficult for many older adults to lug their trash and recycling out to the curb. It’s cold, the sidewalk may be icy and it is difficult to see in the dark if there are patches of ice or other obstructions that could cause them to fall.
In addition, taking out the trash after sundown may be impossible for religious reasons. Observant Jews, for example, cannot do so on the Sabbath or on most religious holidays, so if their pickup day is Saturday, for example -- meaning they would have to take their trash out Friday night after sundown -- they must skip pickup, even if they have trash to take out.
For these reasons, the mayor and the Department of Sanitation need to change their policy. One possibility would be to have a flexible trash set-out time coordinated with sunset, so that residents can take their trash out while it is still light outside. Let’s think about safety first while also tackling the city’s rat problem.
William Colton is a state assembly member for the 47th district in Brooklyn, which covers portions of Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Gravesend and Dyker Heights.
