Small Residential Buildings Must Use Official NYC Bins Starting June 2026

If you own a residential property with one to nine units in New York City, an important sanitation deadline is approaching. While smaller buildings can currently use any trash container with a secure lid, that flexibility ends in June 2026. At that point, owners must use the official NYC Bin when setting out trash for collection by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

The city first introduced residential trash containerization rules in November 2024 as part of a broader effort to reduce sidewalk trash piles, improve street cleanliness, and curb rodent activity. For building owners, however, the priority is simpler: determining whether your property is affected and ensuring you’re prepared before enforcement begins.

Trash Containerization Rules for Residential Properties (1-9 Units)

Starting in June 2026, owners of properties with 1-9 residential units will need to set out trash in the official NYC Bin. The official bins come in 35- and 45-gallon sizes and can be picked up at all NYC Home Depot stores. Property owners can also order the bins online for delivery through a Home Depot partner.

Official NYC Bins are also available for recycling and composting, though availability of these optional bins is limited to select Home Depot stores.

Containerization in Residential Properties with 10+ Units

New York City’s long-term trash containerization plan also affects larger residential buildings, and the rollout is already underway.

In June 2025, Manhattan Community District 9 (Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights) became the city’s first fully containerized district for larger residential properties. Buildings with more than 30 units were assigned stationary on-street containers known as Empire Bins, which are serviced by automated side-loading sanitation trucks.

In April 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DSNY announced plans to expand the program to six additional community districts by the end of 2027:

• Brooklyn Community District 8 (Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Weeksville)
• Bronx Community District 2 (Hunts Point, Longwood)
• Bronx Community District 5 (University Heights, Mount Hope, Morris Heights, Fordham Heights)
• Manhattan Community District 2 (West Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, Nolita)
• Queens Community District 2 (Sunnyside, Hunters Point, Woodside)
• Staten Island Community District 1 (North Shore)

Here’s how the rules currently work for larger properties:

• 31+ units. These properties will be assigned Empire Bins as the program expands.
• 10-30 units. Owners may be able to choose either the Empire Bins or the NYC Bins, depending on their location and the city’s rollout plans.

The city’s long-term goal is full trash containerization across all five boroughs by the end of 2031.

Visit the DSNY website to learn more about these new trash collection requirements or to see the schedule of upcoming information sessions.

Questions about protecting your New York rental property? Call our office at 877-576-5222 or request a free, no-obligation policy review.