Trash Can Free Station Pilot

Each year, NYC Transit removes 14,000 tons of trash from the subway, and approximately 50 % gets recycled.   However, since we have 468 stations and run subway service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, trash sometimes accumulates in storage rooms and in large containers on platforms. 

We've taken several steps to make these bags of trash less noticeable to you, and less accessible to rodents.  Although we have been successful in adding more refuse train collections, reinforcing storage rooms and using new, more tamper-proof trash receptacles, we have not eliminated the problem.

Last fall, we began a pilot at two subways stations, 8th St () and Main St (), where we removed all trash cans to minimize the number of exposed trash bags in the stations, and to control the rodent population in the subway. The pilot program had mixed results.  We reduced the number of bags by 67-percent at Main St, and by 50 % at 8th St.   The number of station and track fires didn't increase, and cleanliness seemed to improve.

In order to understand the potential impact of removing trash cans system wide, on September 2, 2012, we're starting a larger pilot for six months to monitor trash collection from stations and tracks.  We've selected eight stations – two in each borough – to test this program and determine whether to continue it.  The eight stations are:

• Bronx
  1. 238 Street Station – line
  2. E. 143 Street Station – line

• Manhattan
  1. 57 Street Station – line
  2. Rector Street Station – line

• Brooklyn
  1. 7 Avenue Station – / lines
  2. Brighton Beach Station – lines

• Queens
  1. 111 Street Station – line
  2. 65 Street Station –/ lines

Before we remove any station trash cans, we will post notices in all affected stations.