New York City has seen a spike in street debris complaints. Between September 2023 and September 2024, the city’s 311 trash systems received 41,023 complaints about garbage on sidewalks, up over 250% from four years before and 30% from the previous year. Additionally, the percentage of streets classified as “filthy” increased from 0.1% in 2020 to 1.5% in 2022. This data highlights the growing problem of street litter pollution in New York City.
AP Environmental Science teacher, Mrs. Melissa Smith, says, “Trash affects the ecosystem in negative ways. Remember that humans are the only organism that produces waste that is not reused by another organism. Societies that are not wealthy generate very little waste. In the 1900’s every object that was no longer used for its original purpose was recycled or reused to make another product.
Known for its lively culture and stunning skyline, New York City has faced a persistent challenge over the years: waste pollution. The city’s enormous population and business activities produce around 24 million pounds of domestic garbage per day. This massive volume has resulted in waste piles along the streets, drawing rodents in and taking away from the city’s attractions.
Sophomore Ella Klein says, “When I was in New York, I noticed that there was lots of trash that included things like empty bottles, boxes, and bags of food. It added a negative impact to the New York experience because it made the city look dirty, which took away from its beauty.”
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is responsible for thoroughly cleaning and picking up street trash multiple times a week. OATH is New York City’s law system. From April 2023 to March 2024, there were 97,873 OATH violations. These violations included dirty sidewalks, absent vehicles, and illegal dumping. During this same time, there were 154,401 complaints. These complaints were directly related to these violations.
Because of these violations, it is often difficult for the DSNY to keep up with the filth on the streets. The Department of Sanitation has boosted street cleaning services and public litter baskets, particularly in high-traffic areas. Anti-littering efforts have been put into place around the city, including signs and online platforms, to increase awareness and foster civic pride in preserving a cleaner environment. Furthermore, the city has imposed greater fines or other punishments for littering and illegal dumping in the hopes that fees and legal implications will stop the flow of litter.
This past March, History and Journalism students went on a trip to New York City. The students had a great time visiting the sights and attractions, but it was upsetting to see how much trash was dispersed across the city. It detracted from the experience and reminded them of the need to keep the environment clean.
Klein says, “It kind of made me feel upset because I believe that people should be taking in the beauty of the buildings and sightseeing and not be distracted by it from things like trash.”
This growing issue serves as a wake-up call, reminding us that keeping our cities clean is not just the responsibility of sanitation workers but a shared duty we all have to protect the environment and preserve the beauty of our communities.
