Changes in Department of Sanitation requirements have been fast and frequent in the past few years. Here are three more DSNY proposed rules you should be aware of in 2024, and how they may impact your properties:

Proposed Rule For Mandatory Organics

Link to rule here.

Local Law 85 of 2023 required the DSNY to establish a mandatory citywide organics collection program. The program officially began in October 2023, and must be in place in all Sanitation districts by October 7, 2024.

Per the proposed rule, and as a result of budget constraints, the DSNY is amending the proposed start dates for Staten Island, the Bronx, and Manhattan to October 6, 2024.

Previously, DSNY rules staggered the program inclusion dates beginning in March for Staten Island and the Bronx, and Manhattan at the end of the required period. Now all three boroughs will commence mandatory source separation of residential organic waste on October 6th. Beyond that, nothing in the original rule about organics seems to have changed.

The comment period closes on April 3rd – find out more about attending the hearing and providing feedback here.

Initial Zone Rule For Commercial Waste Zones – Amended

Link to rule here.

This rule sets a start date and final implementation date for the Queens Central commercial waste zone. Subsequent rules will address dates for other zones with future implementations.

Implementation for the Queens Central zone begins on September 3, 2024 and will be finalized on January 2, 2025. Specifically, “awardees for one of more of the zones in this subdivision [right now, just this one] and for citywide containerized service shall be authorized to commence service in the awarded zones [on the listed dates].” This section will be expanded as more zones and dates are added.

Read more about commercial waste zones and what’s required in our rundown post, here.

Proposed Rule: Small Business Forward

Link to rule here.

In an effort to continue work from Local Law 151 and reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, the DSNY set out to simplify key requirements via this proposed rule.

Here’s what’s changed:

• Penalty language has been removed from the enforcement and compliance section on waste. The generalized progressive penalty structure ($100 – $400 and $2,500 – $10,000) has been removed, with language directing to section 16-324 remaining
• There’s also clarified language regarding decals for covered establishments that arrange for collection of organic waste by a private carter. “Shall” has been replaced with “must” to simplify the requirement

There’s likely more to come as more commercial waste zones come online and DSNY regulations continue to evolve alongside the city’s War on Rats and renewed focus on containerization. Stay tuned to the blog for updates.

About the Author

Kristen Hariton

Kristen Hariton is the Vice President, Product Engagement at SiteCompli, focused on exploring new solutions and innovations in property operations tech. When she's not sharing the latest industry trends, changes, and updates, she's planning her next adventure to Walt Disney World.