DSNY violations in Bushwick appear to have inspired containerized trash turnaround
Residents in Bushwick say they have seen and felt the difference. DSNY says it has seen a 25% reduction in rat sighting reports.
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Bushwick appears to have received the message about new city rules requiring the containerizing of trash.
Residents say the litter continued for months after the November trash rules start date. The DSNY told News 12 that the agency has been issuing fines and violations for non-compliant properties ever since the warning period expired.
"We issued nearly 800 violations for the area which falls in Community Board 4,” said DSNY First Deputy Commissioner Javier Lojan. “We issued violations and warnings. People may have said, 'OK, I need to get a bin', and you starting to see some of the results.”
Lojan says the agency issued over 1,300 warnings for the area, prior to issuing those fines, which start at $50 per citation and can rise to $200 per instance.
Residents in Bushwick say they have seen and felt the difference. DSNY says it has seen a 25% reduction in rat sighting reports.
"I definitely see my building doing their trash differently, and we saw a fine on our property that the landlord had to pay," said resident Nolan Parks.
Other residents say they have noticed the drop off in rat sightings, but feel the area still has too much trash.
"Have I seen less bags out and more people using bins? Yes. Have I seen less trash on the street? Absolutely not."
DSNY told News 12 that they are also working to remove derelict vehicles that are known to act as hubs for rats, as well as partnering with the Parks Department to increase enforcement at Maria Hernandez Park.
