Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro speaks during the Shapiro-Davis re-election campaign kickoff rally at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
(Manhattan, New York) – Following a week filled with heavy snowstorms and growing frustration from residents, New York City has resumed regular trash collection across the five boroughs.
Sanitation services had been delayed and disrupted as multiple winter storms moved through the region, dumping snow across the city and making many residential streets difficult for sanitation trucks to navigate. Snow buildup, icy roads, and ongoing plowing operations forced the city to temporarily scale back parts of its normal collection schedule.
The delays sparked criticism from residents and local officials, particularly in neighborhoods where trash bags piled up on sidewalks for days. Photos circulating online showed overflowing garbage piles in parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens as sanitation crews struggled to keep up while also clearing snow.
City officials say crews are now working extended shifts to clear the backlog and restore the normal pickup schedule. The Department of Sanitation is urging residents to continue placing trash out on their regular collection days as crews work to catch up after the storm disruptions.
With temperatures beginning to moderate and road conditions improving, officials expect sanitation operations to fully normalize in the coming days as the city continues recovering from the latest round of winter weather.
