If your business operates in New York City, the DSNY commercial waste zones program requires you to hire one of three private carters authorized to serve your zone, and to do it before your zone’s compliance deadline. The city has divided the five boroughs into 20 geographic zones under Local Law 199 of 2019, replacing the old open-market system in which any licensed carter could pick up anywhere.1New York City Council. Local Law 199 of 2019 The rollout is phased, so what you need to do first depends on when your zone goes live.
When Your Zone Goes Live
The program is rolling out in six cohorts, each with a sign-up window followed by a hard compliance deadline. Miss the deadline and the city assigns you a carter at the maximum allowable rate, with no choice on your part.2New York City Department of Sanitation. CWZ Rollout Schedule and Info Sessions3NYC Department of Sanitation. Commercial Waste Zones Implementation Timeline and Cohorts
- Queens Central: fully implemented January 3, 2025.
- Bronx East and Bronx West: fully implemented November 30, 2025.
- Brooklyn South and Queens Northeast: fully implemented February 28, 2026.
- Lower Manhattan: sign-up began April 1, 2026; full implementation May 31, 2026.
- Midtown South and Staten Island: sign-up begins July 1, 2026; full implementation August 31, 2026.
- Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan: sign-up begins October 1, 2026; full implementation November 30, 2026.
If your zone is already live and you haven’t signed with an authorized carter, you are out of compliance now. If your sign-up window is open, use the full window to compare the three carters rather than waiting to be assigned.
Finding Your Zone and Choosing a Carter
Every commercial address falls into exactly one zone, determined by where your entrance is located if your building sits near a border. DSNY publishes an interactive zone map and a directory of authorized carters on its website.4New York City Department of Sanitation. Commercial Waste Zones Look up your address, see which three carters serve your zone for curbside collection, and compare them on price, pickup frequency, and whether they handle organics if you need that service.
There is a separate track for containerized waste. If you generate enough volume to use a dumpster or compactor with a capacity of 10 cubic yards or more, you are not limited to your zone’s three curbside carters and can contract with any of the five companies holding citywide containerized contracts.5New York City Department of Sanitation. Commercial Waste Zones Plan6NYC Rules. DSNY Initial Zone Rule for Commercial Waste Zones
Signing with any hauler not authorized for your zone, or staying with a legacy carter after your zone goes live, exposes you to violations.
What You’ll Pay
Maximum rates are set by the Business Integrity Commission, not DSNY. The current caps are $26.87 per cubic yard of loose refuse (charged by volume) or $17.64 per 100 pounds (charged by weight).7Business Integrity Commission. Maximum Rates Carters are free to charge less and are expected to compete on price; they cannot go higher.
Your service agreement should break out refuse collection and recycling collection as distinct line items, and disclose any extra fees for walk-in pickups, bulky items, or specialized services separately. BIC revises the caps periodically to track disposal and operating costs, so verify the current numbers on BIC’s rate page before you sign or renew.
Switching From Your Current Carter
Once your sign-up window opens, read your existing contract’s cancellation clause. If your old carter is acquired by or assigned to a new entity as part of the zone transition, the new carter must notify you within 15 calendar days, and you then have a 90-day window to cancel without penalty on 30 days’ written notice.8New York City Department of Sanitation. Notice of Adoption of Amendment to Rules Relating to Collection of Commercial Waste
After ending the old arrangement, pick one of your zone’s three carters, sign a new service agreement, and schedule your first pickup. Don’t push this to the final week of the sign-up period. Businesses that miss the compliance deadline lose the ability to choose and get locked into the maximum rate.
Sorting Rules You Have to Follow
Every commercial establishment in the city sorts waste into three streams collected by three separate trucks: refuse, metal/glass/plastic/cartons, and paper/cardboard. The two recycling streams cannot be combined with each other or with trash. Use clear bags for recyclables and post signage near internal bins so staff sort correctly.9NYC Department of Sanitation. New Business Recycling Rules
Fines for failing to sort or store waste properly start at $100 per violation and climb to $300 for repeat offenses in the same category. Each unsorted bag or container counts separately, so one bad pickup night can produce several fines.10New York City Environmental Control Board. Sanitation Penalty Schedule
Organic Waste Thresholds
Larger food-related businesses must also separate organic waste (food scraps and food-soiled paper) under Local Law 146 of 2013. You are covered if you fit any of these categories:11New York City Department of Sanitation. Commercial Organics Requirements
- Restaurants, delis, or cafeterias of 7,000 square feet or more, or chains with two or more NYC locations totaling at least 8,000 square feet.
- Hotels with 100 or more guest rooms and food service.
- Supermarkets or grocery stores of 10,000 square feet or more, or chains with three or more NYC locations totaling at least 10,000 square feet.
- Food preparation facilities of 6,000 square feet or more.
- Catering establishments serving events with more than 100 attendees.
- Arenas and stadiums seating 15,000 or more.
- Food manufacturers of 25,000 square feet or more.
- Food wholesalers of 20,000 square feet or more.
Below those thresholds, organic separation is voluntary. If you are above them, your zone carter should handle organics as part of your service agreement.
The Decal Inspectors Look For
When you sign with an authorized carter, they give you an official DSNY commercial waste zone decal. Post it in a front-facing window or on a door visible from the street.12New York City Department of Sanitation. Hiring a Private Carter In zones that have gone live, this DSNY decal replaces the older BIC trade waste decal.13Business Integrity Commission. Trade Waste Decals Inspectors check for it during compliance sweeps, and failing to post one carries a $100 fine.10New York City Environmental Control Board. Sanitation Penalty Schedule Switch carters or change service terms, and you need a fresh decal from the new provider.
Can You Haul Your Own Waste?
Yes, with a registration. If you prefer to handle disposal yourself, you must register as a self-hauler with the Business Integrity Commission and transport your waste to a licensed private transfer station.14NYC311. Waste Disposal for Businesses Operating without BIC registration puts you under the same enforcement regime as any unauthorized hauling.
Very small generators have one more option. Businesses producing fewer than 20 gallons of garbage per week may share a private carter with other small businesses, but a written contract and decal are still required, and you must keep the contract available for DSNY inspection.
Reporting Service Problems
If your carter misses a pickup or provides poor service, contact them directly first using the number in your service agreement. For broader complaints about a carter’s compliance, or to report another business ignoring the rules, file through NYC’s 311 portal under the trash or recycling disposal category.14NYC311. Waste Disposal for Businesses DSNY tracks carter performance across active zones and uses early-phase data to tighten oversight before the next cohort launches.