White trucks with the "sanitation" wordmark on the side have remained virtually unchanged for nearly thirty years.

Now, it's back to the future.

In 1929 when the Department was given its current name (from its inception in 1881 it was called The Department of Street Cleaning) its ties to the Health Department and health issues were evident. The original logo's focal point is the traditional medical symbol, the caduceus, to promote the idea that sanitation can affect the health of the City. The wings, staff and wand were incorporated because the work force, under the commissioner of the time, was called the White Wings and wore white uniforms.

Today the yellow caduceus is set on an aqua background with a bright red S in the center. Surrounding the logo are the words The City of New York Department of Sanitation.

All new or repainted equipment, from passenger cars and collection trucks to front end loaders and large off-road refuse haulers used at the landfill, will sport the new logo.

The new logo also appears as a patch on the left shoulder of all Sanitation workers and officers.