Mayor Mamdani Installs First Residential Empire Bins in Downtown Brooklyn to Banish Sidewalk Trash Bags

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson on Thursday, October 30, 2026, installed the first residential Empire Bins in Downtown Brooklyn, kicking off a rollout of more than 700 large wheeled containers across Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Dumbo, Clinton Hill, and the Navy Yard. The bins are being placed in front of residential buildings with 30 or more units, replacing the longstanding practice of piling black trash bags directly on the sidewalk for collection — a practice critics say fuels New York City's notorious rat population and degrades the quality of street life. The initiative is part of Mayor Mamdani's broader push to containerise all residential waste in New York City, following the city's earlier success containerising commercial trash. Officials said the Downtown Brooklyn rollout would be completed by the end of the autumn season, with further expansion to other neighbourhoods planned for 2027. The Empire Bins take over existing parking spaces along the block, turning them into dedicated refuse-storage points. Residents and local officials at the installation ceremony voiced support for the change, though some motorists expressed frustration at the loss of parking. The mayor said the programme would bring the city closer to trash-free sidewalks.