Photo: 77 WABC N.D.
(New York, New York) — New Yorkers across multiple boroughs are blasting City Hall as piles of trash continue to rot on sidewalks nearly a week after a major winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow across the city, leaving entire blocks buried in garbage as “limited collection” drags on.
Residents say trash bags, cardboard boxes, and recycling have stacked up curbside across the city as the Department of Sanitation prioritizes snow removal over regular pickup. Overflowing sidewalks, foul odors, and torn bags have fueled growing concerns about rats as temperatures fluctuate and the cleanup falls further behind.
The frustration has been especially visible on the Upper East Side, where residents say garbage has gone untouched since the initial snowfall. In some areas, trash piles tower near residential buildings, forcing pedestrians to weave through refuse just blocks from Gracie Mansion, which locals say appears noticeably cleaner than surrounding streets.
Anger over the situation has spilled onto social media, with one viral post declaring, “Look at this garbage piling up on the streets of NYC. Mamdani better get things under control ASAP.” Another post sharply criticized city priorities amid the sanitation mess, writing, “They waste millions of dollars on free homes for illegal immigrants yet can’t have a better solution for trash besides dumping it on the side of the streets?”
Sanitation officials have acknowledged delays, urging residents to continue placing trash curbside while warning that recycling collection remains postponed. The department says hundreds of trucks are operating daily alongside snow operations, asking New Yorkers for patience as crews attempt to catch up after the storm.
But patience is wearing thin. Trash has piled up in parts of the Bronx, including along the Grand Concourse just blocks from where Zohran Mamdani held a public event over the weekend, while some Upper West Side blocks remain clogged with recycling that residents say hasn’t been collected for nearly two weeks. As “limited collection” stretches on, New Yorkers are increasingly questioning how long the city can afford to leave its streets buried in garbage — and how long residents are expected to live with it.
