News & updates

Questions about Empire Bins?

DSNY is holding two online information sessions on Tuesday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 6 to 6:30 PM EST. Learn how the bins work and ask DSNY questions. Register through DSNY's Empire Bins page.

Brooklyn CD2's Empire Bin installation has started

DSNY announced Brooklyn's first residential Empire Bin installations. More than 700 bins are being installed in Community District 2, with full district containerization expected by the end of fall. This is installation progress, not an announcement of a new legal deadline.

The announcement names six more districts for 2027 and states a citywide containerization goal of the end of 2031. Existing district rules and assigned-bin notices still govern what each building must do.

Election Day: no trash, composting or recycling collection Tuesday, November 3.

If Tuesday is your usual collection day, set material out Tuesday evening for collection beginning Wednesday, November 4. Delays may follow the holiday.

Council member asks DSNY to pause NYC Bin fines

The rule has not changed: NYC Bin enforcement is still active. Council Member Simcha Felder asked DSNY to suspend fines while the city addresses reported shortages, stolen bins and resale markups. He also asked the agency to dismiss summonses issued since September 8 or convert them to warnings, allow more retailers to sell the bins, and review inventory and distribution citywide.

As of September 17, DSNY had not announced a pause or other policy change. Until it does, properties with 1-9 residential units can still be ticketed for setting out trash in anything other than an official NYC Bin.

Fines begin: DSNY starts ticketing buildings without official NYC Bins

The warning period ended on Labor Day. DSNY is now issuing summonses starting at $50 to properties with 1-9 residential units that set out trash in anything other than an official NYC Bin. The city says trash bins are in stock at every Home Depot in the five boroughs.

Gothamist: ~750,000 small buildings face the new fines

Gothamist's enforcement-eve report: fines run $50 to $200 for repeat offenders; roughly 750,000 buildings are covered; and Council members say constituents struggled to find bins during the summer supply crunch. DSNY says the bins remain available for sale.

October 15 bin deadline for larger buildings in Brooklyn CD2

This is an August rule, not a new September announcement. In Brooklyn CD2, buildings with 31+ units must use assigned Empire Bins by October 15. Buildings there with 10-30 units and no Empire Bin must use official NYC Bins for trash by that date. In Manhattan CD9, 10-30 unit buildings without Empire Bins have needed official NYC Bins since June 1, 2026. Check your district and assigned bin before buying. The rule for 1-9 unit buildings has not changed.

NYC Bin manufacturer Otto in involuntary bankruptcy

Waste Dive reports Otto Environmental Systems - holder of the city's bin contract - was placed in involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May by three creditors alleging $2.6M in debts. Court filings describe disputes over assets moved between companies set up by Otto's CEO. About 1.1 million NYC Bins have been purchased; the city had expected 3.39 million delivered by May 2026. Home Depot listings now carry the official bin under the Edge brand, and DSNY maintains supply is stable.

Reimbursement window for STAR homeowners closes with the warning period

Owners of one- and two-family homes who received the STAR exemption or credit in 2024 or 2025 were eligible for a reimbursement covering one 45-gallon bin. The deadline was extended through the first week of September 2026 and has now closed.

Official NYC Bins become mandatory for trash at 1-9 unit buildings

The containerization program's next phase took effect: only official NYC Bins count for trash setout. A summer warning period ran through Labor Day while bin supply recovered from the manufacturer's troubles.