What type of trash bins are required in New York City?
NYC now requires official DSNY bins for residential trash setout. Which container you need depends on your building's size and on a September 2026 enforcement deadline.
If your building has 1 to 9 residential units in New York City, you must use an official NYC Bin (the standardized container issued by the Department of Sanitation) for curbside trash setout. A warning period runs through September 7, 2026, and full enforcement begins September 8, 2026. Buildings with 10 to 30 units choose between official NYC Bins and Empire Bins, while buildings with 31 or more units are being transitioned to Empire Bins as the program rolls out citywide by 2032.
Which bin you need depends on your building size
New York City has been moving residential trash out of loose black bags and into wheeled containers, and the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has settled on a specific list of which containers count. The rule is set by unit count, not by personal preference, and it applies whether you own, rent, or are just moving in. These are city-level sanitation rules, separate from the federal interstate moving regulations that govern the truck delivering your furniture.
Small buildings: 1 to 9 residential units
Properties with 1 to 9 residential units, plus special-use buildings that receive DSNY collection (city agencies, nonprofits, houses of worship, and professional offices in residential buildings), are required to use bins for trash setout rather than stacked bags on the curb.
Official NYC Bins are produced for trash, recycling, and composting, so the same container system covers the three streams you set out each week. If your building was already using a tightly lidded can of 55 gallons or less, the city is allowing that as a stopgap through the warning period, but it is not the long-term solution.
Mid-size and large buildings: 10 units and up
Larger residential properties are being brought into a different system. The city has split this group so the right answer depends on where you sit in the count.
Trash bin requirement by building size
| Building size | Required container | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–9 residential units (and special-use buildings on DSNY collection) | Official NYC Bins for trash, recycling, and composting | Other secure-lid bins ≤55 gallons allowed only through Sept 7, 2026 |
| 10–30 residential units | Choose between official NYC Bins and Empire Bins | Pick the option your building is enrolled in |
| 31+ residential units | Empire Bins (European-style stationary, on-street containers) | Bins are assigned to the building, opened with key cards, serviced by automated side-loading trucks |
Empire Bins are the locked, on-street containers you may have already seen in Manhattan Community District 9. Each bin is tied to a specific building and is opened with a key card when DSNY's automated side-loading trucks arrive. The program is expanding to Brooklyn Community District 2 in the fall, with a plan to be citywide by 2032. As that rollout reaches your block, the choice between NYC Bins and Empire Bins for 10–30 unit buildings goes away and Empire Bins become the standard.
What to confirm after you move in
First-week trash setup checklist
- Identify your building's unit count
It drives which bin category you fall into under DSNY's rules.
- Ask the super which program your building is on
Official NYC Bins, Empire Bins, or in transition between the two.
- Check that an official bin is actually on the curb
If your 1–9 unit building is missing one, flag it before the September 8, 2026 enforcement date.
- Confirm setout location and time
Lidded containers change where and how you place trash on collection day compared to stacked bags.
- Match the right bin to the right stream
Official NYC Bins come in trash, recycling, and composting versions; do not cross-use them.
SUMMARY
The bottom line
For most new arrivals in a 1–9 unit building, the move-in task is simple: get an official NYC Bin before September 8, 2026, and stop putting bags on the curb. If you are moving into a 10+ unit building, your building management handles the container choice, but it is worth confirming which program you are in so you know where to put trash and which container the truck will service.
Common questions
Before you move on
Can I still put out black garbage bags on the curb?+
For 1–9 unit buildings, the city's direction is no. A warning period runs through September 7, 2026, during which any bin with a secure lid that is 55 gallons or less is tolerated, but only official NYC Bins are supposed to be used after that, with full enforcement starting September 8, 2026.
Are recycling and compost under the same container rules?+
The containerization framework covers all three streams. Official NYC Bins are made in versions for trash, recycling, and composting, and the same deadline-driven enforcement applies on the trash side.
What is an Empire Bin and will I get one?+
Empire Bins are European-style stationary containers placed on the street, assigned to a specific building, opened with key cards, and emptied by DSNY's automated side-loading trucks. Buildings with 31 or more units will use them, and 10–30 unit buildings can choose them. They are live in Manhattan Community District 9, expanding to Brooklyn Community District 2 in the fall, and the city plans to be fully rolled out by 2032.