How to actually get an official NYC Bin
Information checked against NYC & DSNY sources · Last updated September 25, 2026
What you need to know
- Only trash requires the official bin. Recycling and compost can go in any labeled bin (55 gallons or less) - or clear bags, for recycling.
- Buy enough bins. There's no limit. All of your trash must fit inside bins; nothing can sit loose on the curb.
- The owner buys, not the renter. The property owner or building manager is responsible for purchasing - and for the fines.
- The STAR reimbursement program is closed. The city reimbursed eligible one- and two-family homeowners (STAR exemption or credit in 2024 or 2025) for one 45-gallon bin. Applications closed September 8, 2026.
What this means for you
Enforcement is live: since September 8, 2026, trash set out in anything but an official NYC Bin brings a $50 fine at buildings with 1-9 units. If you don't have bins yet, this week is the week.
The details
Step 1 - Pick a size
| Size | Price | Holds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 gallon | $54.60 | Up to 4 kitchen trash bags | Properties with multiple units |
| 35 gallon | $47.25 | Up to 3 kitchen trash bags | Small single-family homes |
| 25 gallon | $45.19 | Up to 2 kitchen trash bags | Tight spaces or low trash volume |
Prices as of May 2026, via Home Depot listings reported by SILive. The city priced official bins below comparable retail bins through its concession agreement. Count your trash for one typical week between collections, then buy bins to hold all of it.
Step 2 - Buy it
Every Home Depot store in the five boroughs stocks the official trash bins, per DSNY. To skip the aisle hunt, order for in-store pickup at homedepot.com/NYCBins and collect at the front of the store.
Step 3 - No car? Get it delivered
A 45-gallon bin does not fit in a subway turnstile gracefully. Order from your local Home Depot through DoorDash, Instacart, or Uber Eats for same-day home delivery. Delivery fees vary by app and distance - compare before ordering, and check that the listing is the official NYC Bin (current Home Depot listings carry it under the Edge brand).
If it's sold out
During the summer 2026 supply crunch - after the original manufacturer, Otto, entered involuntary bankruptcy - some stores ran short. DSNY says trash bins are now in stock at every NYC Home Depot. If your nearest store is out: check another borough's store on homedepot.com/NYCBins before making the trip, or order delivery from whichever store shows stock. Still stuck? Tell us - availability problems are exactly what we track.
Step 4 - Label it
Every official bin on the block looks identical, and bins wander. Put your address on yours before the first set-out. (Full disclosure: that's the problem our sponsor, Primo Cans, solves - peel-and-stick address labels sized for the NYC Bin. A paint marker works too.)