New data from the municipal government reveals fewer rat sightings in the city.
The figures are released one month after the new rules came into force that force businesses to take out all their garbage in rodent-proof containers.
Rat sightings reported to line 311 decreased in 11 of the 12 months, starting in April 2023, according to figures from the Department of Sanitation. A decrease of 6.4% citywide and 14.3% in the so-called rat mitigation zones.
The department draws attention that these figures must be seen in the context that the City collects 44 million pounds of garbage daily (taking into account that garbage is where rodents proliferate the most).
“One year since the Garbage Revolution began and the results are in.
“Rat sightings in 311 have DECREASE in 11 of the last 12 months compared to the previous year.
“⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
“Please note that rat sightings generally only go towards ⬆️.
“Garbage containers work. Put a lid on them!” writes the Sanitation Department in a message on social networks.
One year since the Trash Revolution began, and results are in.
Rat sightings to 311 were DOWN in 11 of the past 12 months when compared to the year prior.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Keep in mind, rat sightings usually only go ⬆️.
Containing the trash works. Put a LID on IT! pic.twitter.com/mv0iAL9OWx
— NYC Sanitation (@NYCSanitation) April 13, 2024
One of the changes that the City imposed in April 2023 was that garbage bags had to be placed on the street only at 8 pm the day before collection and not at 4 pm as before.
Likewise, Sanitation changed its garbage collection practices by collecting more than a quarter of all garbage at midnight instead of 6:00 a.m., particularly in high-density parts of the city, and ending a practice by which up to a fifth of the rubbish had been deliberately left outside for an entire day.
To these measures we must add the changes in containers that came into effect last August, a regulation that demands that businesses stop using garbage bags that they left on the streets for containers.
Some businesses (restaurants, delicatessens, wineries, bars, supermarkets, catering companies, etc.) produce an enormous amount of the type of garbage that attracts rats.
Starting March 1, 2024, container requirements went into effect so that all businesses, of all types, in New York City can take their trash off the streets and place it in a secure container.
By late fall 2024, when container requirements go into effect for low-density residential buildings (those with one to nine units), approximately 70 percent of all city trash will be placed in containers.
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