NYC Department of Sanitation’s “Winter Schedule” Begins for 2022-2023 Season
Schedule Change Allows for Round-the-Clock Storm Readiness; Collection Times Could Vary
The New York City Department of Sanitation announced that it had transitioned its operations to a winter schedule. Long known as “Night Plow,” the Department schedules more employees to overnight hours during the winter to respond promptly and effectively to snow conditions around the clock. This winter shift is in addition to the unprecedented amount of nighttime trash and recycling collection already in place – all part of ongoing efforts to decrease the time that material sits on the streets and create a cleaner City with fewer rats.
When it is not snowing, Sanitation Workers scheduled for the night shift are frequently assigned to cleaning or collection duties, and as a result, residents may notice their trash, compost, and recycling collected at a slightly different time. The Department reminds residents: If they don’t put their trash out at the right time, by midnight, they risk missing their pick-up.
“There are more trucks running on the midnight shift than ever before,” said Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Regarding proper set-out times, she continued, “Our crews will be there; we need you to do your part and put the material out at the right time for us to collect.”
The Department’s focus on data and “on-the-ground” observations helps determine the start and stop of the winter operations. This year’s announcement comes later in the year due to the earlier unseasonably warm temperatures. The winter schedule generally lasts at least through mid-April, but the Department will re-evaluate in the weeks and months to come.
The Department of Sanitation has a frontline defense of more than 700 salt spreaders dispatched at the first sign of frozen precipitation. Once two inches of snow has fallen on the City’s streets and highways, the Department can deploy it’s more than 2,000 plow-equipped trucks to clear snow and ice. The Department is responsible for more than 19,000 lane-miles of roadway in the City. Read our Snow Operations FAQs on Sanitation snow operations. For further information on Sanitation services, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation.
About the New York City Department of Sanitation
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) keeps New York City healthy, safe and clean by collecting, recycling and disposing of waste, cleaning streets and vacant lots, and clearing snow and ice. The Department operates 59 district garages and manages a fleet of more than 2,000 rear-loading collection trucks, 450 mechanical brooms and 705 salt spreaders. The Department clears litter, snow and ice from approximately 6,500 miles of City streets and removes debris from vacant lots as well as abandoned vehicles from City streets. The Department runs a portfolio of programs and facilities to help New Yorkers more sustainably manage waste.
Source: DSNY – Press Release 22-49
