New York City’s crusade against rats could have a new victim: parking.
A Department of Sanitation report released Wednesday found that a planned program to fight the rat population with new, massive trash containers could end up eliminating 150,000 parking spaces; that’s more than the number of spaces that were lost to outdoor dining and bike-sharing combined.
The city’s garbage “containerization” study found that these giant containers could be implemented on 89% of city streets in most of the boroughs without interfering with parking spaces. But especially south of 110th in Manhattan, around a quarter of parking there may have to go, per the report.
“Waste containerization is feasible in many parts of New York City. Like many good things, it will not come easily, but there is no doubt that it can be done,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “Citywide waste containerization requires extensive changes to our city’s streets and public spaces — potentially some of the largest changes in a generation.”
The trash plan aims to block rodents from gnawing on the garbage and remove them from their primary food source. This would be achieved by forcing residents to toss trash, recycling, and compost in giant covered containers along the street instead of on the curb. These containers would be set up in rows along sidewalks, and they are sealed to prevent rats from feasting. While this plan is new to New York City, and may generate resistance, it has long been implemented in European cities with great success.
The report does not mention any cost for the trash container plan, but it would likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years or so, the New York Times reported.
