New York City is dirty. And according to the latest survey by the Sanitation Foundation, the official nonprofit affiliated with the Department of Sanitation, the blame lies mostly with young people. Members of Generation Z, aged between 18 and 34, have been labeled the city’s “worst environmental offenders”: the most likely to litter, especially in the Bronx and Queens neighborhoods.
Even though they claim to be proud of their boroughs, many admit to occasionally throwing trash on the ground. The excuses tend to be the same: no trash can nearby, or they were “in a rush.” These justifications, while revealing a sense of disconnection, also feed into a broader perception: that of a neglected metropolis.
What’s striking is also the generational paradox. While some apologize, others their age label them “lazy” and “disrespectful,” accusing them of worsening the city’s reputation. The study reveals that nearly 4 in 10 New Yorkers admit to having littered at least once. Only 29% say they’ve never done it.
According to some observers, the survey results may not fully reflect reality, as many are likely to downplay their own behavior. Some point out that over time, a kind of resignation has taken root: “either you keep caring about the Big Apple, or you just stop trying.” Many choose to move elsewhere, often citing the increasing urban decay– streets full of garbage and a growing sense of living in an open-air dump. There are also those who seem to have lost all hope, choosing to personally pick up trash in front of their homes two or three times a week.
The issue has not gone unnoticed by Mayor Eric Adams, who has announced a $32 million investment to strengthen the Department of Sanitation. Meanwhile, the Sanitation Foundation has launched the “Don’t Do NYC Dirty” campaign to encourage residents to take back their streets.
