DSNY Celebrates City Council Vote on Street Cleaning and Commercial Composting Bills

June 30, 2026

Cars that prevent street cleaning to be identified with stickers under re-authorized program

Commercial composting law expanded to cover all businesses that generate food and yard waste, saving businesses money in the process

The Department of Sanitation applauded the City Council for passing two bills that will make New York City cleaner and greener:

• Intro 92 undoes a law passed by the City Council in 2011 that prohibited DSNY from using stickers as part of enforcement for alternate-side parking violations. This bill explicitly allows DSNY to place stickers up to 8.5 x 11 inches on the window of any motor vehicle that violates alternate-side parking rules. Upper West Side Council Member Gale Brewer, who voted for the earlier prohibition of this practice in 2011, was the lead sponsor of the repeal bill. Remember, when you don't move your car, YOUR STREET DOESN'T GET CLEAN!
• Intro 31 authorizes DSNY to require all businesses that produce food waste and other organic waste to separate their food and yard waste for composting. The bill would also require private carters to provide information on the donation of excess edible food to establishments receiving organic waste collection. Under the Commercial Waste Zone program, businesses pay less for composting than for trash collection, so this law will save businesses money while removing confusing and outdated requirements regarding who is and is not required to comply.

"Intro 92 undoes a grave mistake made by a prior City Council and gives us an additional tool to help us effectively clean the city's streets," said DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson. "Selfish car owners who prioritize their convenience over clean neighborhoods will soon be peeling stickers off their cars, while also paying for a summons. Our goal is neither writing summonses nor using stickers. We want people to simply comply with the law, so we can clean streets across New York City."

"Intro 31, also passed today, marks a critical step toward reducing the amount of food waste and other compostable material sent to landfills," Commissioner Anderson added. "All residents are required to compost as part of the nation's largest mandatory curbside composting program. This bill allows DSNY to expand that universal requirement to all businesses that generate food and yard waste. With the passage of this bill, we will turn more New York City food waste into finished compost or renewable energy, rather than shipping it to landfills hundreds of miles away. I thank our partners in the City Council for passing these important bills." 

Press Release #26-30