Trash for delivery.
The Big Apple’s newfangled “official” garbage cans can be delivered through DoorDash, Instacart or Uber Eats, sanitation officials announced Wednesday — despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration taking aim at such apps.
The announcement comes as Department of Sanitation officials scramble to clean up the messy debut of the program, launched under Mamdani’s predecessor Eric Adams, which requires one- to nine-unit residential buildings to use standardized, lidded “NYC Bins” by June 2026.
The agency’s website proudly boasted that online ordering with home delivery was available for all New Yorkers seeking all types of the official bin through the popular trio of delivery apps.
The use of food delivery apps to deliver the bins is noteworthy given that Mamdani’s still-fledgling administration targeted them out the gate for allegedly stiffing workers out of wages and tips.
“These services are delivery partners for Home Depot,” a DSNY spokesperson told The Post Thursday in response to the agency’s promotion of the app services.
A spokesperson from Home Depot did not immediately respond to an inquiry about how much the deliveries will cost. The bins cost around $55.
Despite the supposed convenience, social media users still had plenty of trash talk.
“Like Home Depot doesn’t ship them… an Uber guy gets them?… confused… I’m not tipping anybody,” one user griped.
Another fumed, “Bins should be provided for free — that’s what people pay taxes [for],” while a third complained about lack of options, “Why are we required to use NYC Bins specific bin? Sounds like a monopoly.”
The residential garbage cans were unveiled in 2024 by then-Mayor Adams, who declared with a straight face that they were part of a “trash revolution.”
The swagger-prone Adams’ hyperbole drew much mockery for essentially rediscovering the wheel. Or, as one X user put it: “NYC has invented the garbage can. BE AMAZED!”
But the ballyhooed revolution quickly ran into trouble.
Homeowners noticed last fall the required cans were nearly impossible to find, after the original vendor, Otto Environmental Systems, struggled to turn a profit and then left town before fulfilling thousands of orders. About 14,000 New Yorkers are still waiting on bins ordered from the company.
A DSNY notice from Wednesday promised that “all outstanding online delivery orders are ongoing and are targeted for completion by late March,” with deliveries expected to wrap by March 31.
Homeowners who do not use the required bins can be fined by the city. Fines are $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second and $200 for subsequent offenses.
Staten Island Councilmember Frank Morano plans a press conference next week to draw attention to the issue.
“Thousands of homeowners across New York City – particularly seniors and residents without access to a vehicle – report that they ordered the required bins months ago, paid in full, and still have not received delivery, tracking information, or clear guidance on refunds,” his office said in a press release.