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By Paul Liotta

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — All New York City residential buildings with fewer than nine units, including single-family homes, will need to begin using approved trash cans in November, but they still have time to secure the new cans.

Mayor Eric Adams announced the new trash cans July 8 outside Gracie Mansion with Councilman Shaun Abreu (D-Manhattan) and Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

The mayor has made modernizing the city’s trash collection methods a focus of his administration, and the new containers are part of that effort.

“Today, we are tossing even more black bags into the dustbin of history and taking the next step forward in our ‘Trash Revolution,’” Adams said.

Starting Nov. 12, any residential building with fewer than 10 units, including single-family homes, will need to begin using approved cans, and have the option to purchase official New York City cans, manufactured by a North Carolina-based company called Otto.

The city recommends ordering NYC Bins by Oct. 1 to receive them by the Nov. 12 kickoff of the new containerization rules.

Otto’s website lists two options for its trash cans that come with latching lids, wheels, a metal bar for mechanized collection, and a 10-year warranty.

The first, a 35-gallon containerthat holds about three kitchen garbage bags, will cost New Yorkers $45.88. The other 45-gallon container, which holds about four kitchen garbage bags, will cost $53.01.

Otto also lists same-size recycling bins at the same price points along with a 21-gallon compost bin costing $43.47.

While separate recycling bins won’t yet be mandatory, the city’s growing curbside composting program, requiring the separation of compostable materials from trash, will begin on Staten Island Oct. 6.

Residents will have to either keep those materials for at-home compost, put them out in separate labeled containers on their recycling nights, or drop them off at official Department of Sanitation (DSNY) composting bins.

The city selected Otto, part of a larger company called Duramax Holdings, as the manufacturer after a search began in Oct. 2023 with three requirements — cans cheaper than $50 in the most common size, an availability of different sizes, and manufacturing specifications including rat resistance.

While the price tag might seem high for something New Yorkers are being forced to buy, similar cans on the market can go for $100 and up.

There will be a grace period after the new approved bins go into effect, which Tisch said should last about a month, during which home and building owners will receive warnings if their cans are not in compliance.

Until June 2026, people who already own cans under 55 gallons with secure lids will be able to continue to use those bins, but will need to switch to an approved trash container after.

A first-time fine will be $50, a second offense will cost $100, and $200 will be the penalty for all subsequent offenses.

The rules don’t apply to bulk items, like mattresses, which will continue to be disposed of as they have been, according to DSNY.

A department spokesman said earlier this month that the city plans to use discretion when administering the fines, particularly around holidays when people might have more trash than usual.