DSNY Amendment of Penalty for Improper Disposal of Regulated Household Waste

Comment by date: September 18, 2026

Printable Version of Proposed Rule Text
DSNY-Amendment-of-Penalty-for-Improper-Disposal-of-Regulated-Household-Waste.pdf

DSNY has seen an uptick in regulated household waste not being disposed of properly. Regulated household waste means any item that may cause puncture or cuts that is used in the administration of medication and is disposed of with residential solid waste, including but not limited to intravenous tubing and syringes with needles attached. In 1991, pursuant to section 16-120.1 of the New York City Administrative Code, DSNY promulgated rules relating to the safe disposal of regulated household waste. The penalty permitted in the Administrative Code for a violation of such rules is not less than $50, nor more than $250. The current penalty of $100 has been in effect since 2002.

Over the past three calendar years, DSNY employees have been stuck by needles over 140 times. This number does not include those instances where needles are improperly disposed of and did not result in an injury. As this number continues to climb, and the reasons for the use of needles for medical purposes have increased over the years, DSNY proposes to increase the penalty amount for the improper disposal of regulated household waste from $100 to $250. The increased penalty is necessary to ensure the safety of our workers and to disincentivize the improper disposal of such waste.

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• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: New York City Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Legal Affairs, 125 Worth Street Room/Floor: 710 ; New York, New York 10013

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