The Clever Way New York City Is Taking Care Of Its Rampant Rat Problem
New York City has come up with yet another clever way to attempt to solve its rampant rat problem, and it just might work.
This article is more than 2 years old
If you’ve ever visited New York, you’ve probably noticed the abundance of furry friends that occupy the subway system. Though many have come to terms with the rat problem in the area, the New York City Sanitation Department is still attempting to curtail the issue. The department may impose a new rule to mitigate the enormous infestation of these pesky rodents.
The New York City Sanitation Department is considering a rule that would reduce the time New York citizens would be able to dump their trash. Since New York boroughs like Manhatten don’t really have alleyways, waste is dropped off on the curb for the garbage trucks. This is obviously not a great way to eliminate pests like rats and bugs, but there haven’t been any other garbage disposal options. The possible mandate would only allow New Yorkers to put out their garbage bags after 8 pm.
Since the garbage trucks arrive in the early morning hours, only allowing citizens to dump their garbage at night would reduce the time the bags would be left on the curb. Limiting the amount of time garbage is left unattended in the hot sun could significantly reduce the rat problem in the city. Allowing garbage drop-offs after 8 pm also has an aesthetic incentive for the city. Many dine outdoors during the warmer months, which means watching rats and other pests continuously scurry across the sidewalks. Constricting the number of garbage bags could help keep the sidewalks clean and pest-free while people eat or drink outside.
What if you need to dispose of your garbage and it’s before 8 pm? The New York City Sanitation Department has a solution if the garbage-dumping rule is imposed. If you need to get rid of your garbage during the day, you’ll need to obtain a garbage bin. The garbage bin can be placed outside of your apartment building, but it needs to have a lid to seal your trash properly. The seal would protect the trash from rat infestation and would also help contain the garbage smell that’s incredibly potent in the city.
Though the New York City Sanitation Department is attempting to alleviate this rat problem, many residents don’t believe the time constraints will help. Some believe that instilling mandates with fines won’t help the cause at all but instead would burden individuals who are already financially crunched. Others think that this rule won’t do anything to restrict the amount of trash in the city, but makes residents and businesses hold on to the garbage indoors longer. Though many might not abide by a sanitation order, keeping massive piles of trash off the street could help contain the rat problem in the city.
New York City is known for its many notable sites and landmarks and its overabundance of resilient rodents. Though rats have infested some of New York’s most popular parks and are longtime residents of the city’s subway system, it’s refreshing to know that the city is still attempting to reduce their population. Only time will tell if a garbage-dump timeframe will legitimately work for New York residents and their busy lifestyles.
