DSNY Proposed Rule Relating to the Implementation of the Second and Third Commercial Waste Zones

Effective date: July 30, 2025

Proposed Rule Full Text
DSNY-Proposed-Rule-Relating-to-the-Implementation-of-the-Second-and-Third-Commercial-Waste-Zones.pdf

Adopted Rule Full Text
DSNY-Final-Rule-Relating-to-the-Implementation-Dates-for-Second-and-Third-Commercial-Waste-Zones.pdf

Hearing transcript
DSNY-Proposed-Rule-Implementation-Schedule-for-the-Bronx-East-and-Bronx-West-Commercial-Waste-Zones-Hearing-Transcript-052325.pdf

Adopted rule summary:

In 2019, New York City enacted Local Law 199 requiring the establishment of a new program for the collection of commercial waste. The program, known as the Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) program, is a safe, efficient, and competitive collection system designed to provide high-quality service to New York City businesses while advancing the City’s waste diversion and sustainability goals. Pursuant to Local Law 199, codified in Title 16-B of the New York City Administrative Code, the geographic area of New York City has been divided into 20 “commercial waste zones.” Pursuant to a request for proposals process, three private carters providing commercial waste collection services were selected by the Department to serve businesses within each CWZ, and five carters were selected to provide containerized commercial waste collection services from dumpsters and compactors citywide. The selected carters are referred to as “awardees.” The resulting contracts with the awardees include standards for pricing, customer service, safety, environmental health, and requirements to promote the City’s commitment to recycling and sustainability. Local Law 199 requires the Department to issue rules setting forth an implementation start date and a final implementation date for each commercial waste zone established. See Ad. Code § 16-1002(e)(3). Different implementation start dates and final implementation dates may be established for different commercial waste zones. The Department previously set the implementation start and final implementation dates for the first zone—Queens Central—with an implementation start date of September 3, 2024, and a final implementation date of January 2, 2025. This rule sets the implementation start date and final implementation date for the next two zones to be implemented—Bronx East and Bronx West. Subsequent rules will set the implementation dates for the remaining zones. The Department received three written comments on the proposed rule – one in support of the proposal and two that addressed a different issue. DSNY’s authority for these rules is found in Section 753 and Section 1043(g) of the New York City Charter and Title 16-B of the New York City Administrative Code. The Department received three comments, which did not lead to any changes to the rule.