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By Jessi Mitchell

NEW YORK – New rat mitigation efforts on the west side of Harlem are about to face their first big test when students return to school next week. A few big new waste bins aim to reduce rats’ access to trash.

The brightly colored bins line the block outside 14 schools in Community Board 9. Staff have started sorting according to the types of trash, as city sanitation crews prepare for daily pick-ups.

District 7 City Councilmember Shaun Abreu has already seen a change following recent updates to trash take-out times and the installation of compost bins at the end of blocks.

“Rat sightings have gone down by 45 percent in this zone,” Abreu said, “and now with this containerization, we’re taking another approach, aggressive approach against the rats.”