Program Goals and Details

For years, the system for collecting commercial waste from NYC's businesses has been plagued by public safety hazards, harmful environmental impacts, and poor customer service.

A single neighborhood might have been serviced by dozens of private carters, creating a tangle of inefficient routes that increase air and noise pollution and decrease public safety.

Local Law 199 of 2019 divides the City into zones, limiting the number of private carters authorized to operate in each zone – creating a safer, more efficient collection system while improving service and reducing pollution.

The goals of CWZ include:

• Pricing: Provide fair, transparent pricing with low prices for businesses
• Customer Service: Strengthen customer service standards and establish accountability.
• Waste Reduction: Reduce commercial waste disposal and incentivize recycling.
• Environmental Health: Reduce truck traffic throughout the city to reduce air pollution and improve quality of life.
• Health and Safety: Improve training and safety standards to make the industry safer for workers and the public.
• Labor and Worker Rights: Improve industry labor standards and uphold worker rights.
• Infrastructure and Waste Management: Prioritize investments in clean, modern fleets and facilities that make up a reliable, resilient, and sustainable waste management system.
• Robust, Competitive Industry: Create a system that works for carters of all sizes and prevents overreliance on any single company.

The first Commercial Waste Zone was launched in September 2024. Learn more about the rollout schedule and zone implementation timeline.

CWZ Contract Arrangements

CWZ contracts must be between a commercial business or other customer and an authorized CWZ carter. Customers may sign a CWZ contract with an authorized CWZ carter starting on the first day of zone implementation and must have a CWZ contract by the final day of implementation. See zone implementation dates and timeline.

Contracts must be in writing and offer discounts on recycling and organics collections. Default service levels are defined in 16 RCNY 20-22. All businesses in NYC have the right to contract with a carter and a carter may not deny service to any business who requires below default service levels.
 
The following entities are allowed to sign CWZ contracts on behalf of customers:

• Business owners or authorized representatives
• Property management companies
• Cleaning services companies

Contracting Arrangements in the CWZ Program

There are several different contracting arrangements your business can enter into, depending on your commercial waste collection needs.

Standard

Standard contracts are 1-to-1 contracts between one business and one authorized CWZ carter for collection services. Businesses must display a DSNY decal received from their carter.

Building

Building contracts are single contracts that cover multiple businesses in the same building. The contracts are between the property owners or another authorized representatives (such as a property management companies or cleaning service companies) and authorized CWZ carters.

Tenant businesses must have separate agreement with the property owners or authorized representatives that state the property owners or property management companies will contract for waste collection services on behalf of the tenants. Buildings must display one DSNY decal at the entrance, lobby, or other visible location of the building.

Multi-Zone

Multi-zone contracts cover locations in more than one Commercial Waste Zone. A single contract may cover sites in both implemented and not-yet-implemented zones. The carter must be authorized to provide services in all zones covered by the contract. The customer must display a DSNY decal received from their carter once their zone has been implemented at all sites.

NOTE DURING CWZ PROGRAM ROLL-OUT: As the CWZ program is rolled out in 10 phases from 2025 through the end of 2027, business may only sign multi-zone contracts once one of their properties is in an implemented zone. The multi-zone contract must comply with BIC rules for properties located in non-implemented zones and CWZ rules for properties located in implemented zones, including respective maximum rate caps. Contact the Bureau of Commercial Waste with any questions.

Low-Volume Shared

Low-volume shared contracts are for container service customers who generate twenty gallons of waste or less over a period of seven consecutive days. They may enter into a contract to share containers with other customers.

Customers sharing containers can have a shared contract with one carter where all customers are signatories or have individual contracts with the same carter. Each participating business must display a DSNY decal received from their carter.

Seasonal

Seasonal contracts are for businesses that operate only during certain times of the year. Businesses must display a DSNY decal received from their carter indicating months of operation. If a property has multiple seasonal tenants, DSNY decals must be posted for each seasonal tenant.

On-Call

On-call contracts are for waste collection services provided only when requested (rather than on a regular schedule). Businesses must display a DSNY decal for fixed locations or must carry proof of contract upon inspection, for non-fixed locations.