Legislation Details

File #: Int 1041-2026    Version: * Name: Requirements for the removal of public litter baskets by the department of sanitation.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
On agenda: 9/10/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requirements for the removal of public litter baskets by the department of sanitation
Sponsors: Ty Hankerson
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: This bill would bar the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) from removing public litter baskets solely on the basis that they were used for illegal dumping. It would also require that DSNY give notice to Council Members and community boards prior to removing any public litter basket in their districts. Council Members and community boards would have 10 business days to comment on the proposed removal, and DSNY would have to consider the comments before proceeding with removal. Finally, DSNY would need to submit quarterly to the Mayor, Speaker of the Council, and relevant community board, and post online, a report on, in part, the number of public litter baskets maintained at the end of the previous quarter, the number of baskets removed in the previous quarter, the reasons any baskets were removed, and the number of littering complaints received by DSNY in a period of time before and after a basket’s removal.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1041, 2. Int. No. 1041, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. September 10, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1041

 

By Council Member Hankerson

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requirements for the removal of public litter baskets by the department of sanitation

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 16 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 16-146 to read as follows:

§ 16-146 Requirements for removal of public litter baskets. a. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Affected council member. The term “affected council member” means any council member in whose district a public litter basket is proposed to be removed.

Affected community board.  The term “affected community board” means any community board for a community district within which a public litter basket is proposed to be removed.

Public litter basket. The term “public litter basket” means any litter basket placed for public use that is maintained by the department.

b. Prohibition. The commissioner shall not remove any public litter basket based solely on the grounds that a person deposited household or commercial refuse or liquid wastes in such public litter basket in violation of paragraph 1 of subdivision e of section 16-120.

c. Notice. Prior to the removal of any public litter basket, the commissioner shall provide notice of such removal to the affected council member and affected community board by electronic mail. In such notice, the commissioner shall include the location of the relevant litter basket, at least as specific as the nearest intersection; include reasons for such removal; solicit comments from the affected council member and affected community board regarding such removal; and indicate the manner in which the commissioner will accept such comments.

d. Comment. Within 10 business days after receipt of a notice provided pursuant to subdivision c of this section, the affected council member and affected community board may submit recommendations, comments, or both regarding the proposed removal of the relevant public litter basket to the commissioner.

e. Review. The commissioner shall review and consider any recommendations or comments it receives pursuant to subdivision d of this section prior to removal of the relevant public litter basket.

f. Reporting. No later than January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor, speaker of the council, and each community board, and post on the department’s website, a quarterly report on public litter baskets. Such report shall include, at minimum, the following information, disaggregated by council district and community district:

1. The number of public litter baskets located on a street at the end of the previous quarter;

2. Each such public litter basket’s location, at least as specific as the nearest intersection;

3. The number of public litter baskets removed by the department in the previous quarter;

4. Details about such removal, including for each public litter basket removed:

(a) Its former location, at least as specific as the nearest intersection;

(b) The date that it was removed; and

(c) The reason or reasons for removal;

5. Where a public litter basket was removed by the commissioner in the previous quarter, the number of littering complaints concerning the community district in which such public litter basket was located that were received by the commissioner in the 60 days prior to the removal of such public litter basket; and

6. Where a public litter basket was removed by the commissioner in the previous quarter, the number of littering complaints concerning the community district in which such public litter basket was located that were received by the commissioner from the date of such removal to the date of the report.

§ 2.  This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

NAW

LS #23782

7/14/2026 1:53 PM