NEW YORK (VINnews) — A new City Council proposal would expand New York City’s free trash bin program to include owner-occupied three-family homes, addressing what supporters say is an inequity in how the city treats small homeowners.

Councilman Simcha Felder has introduced Intro 0193, co-sponsored by Sanitation Committee Chair Justin Sanchez. The measure would require the city to provide official bins to eligible three-family homeowners or reimburse those who purchase them.

The current program provides free bins to one- and two-family homes, but excludes many three-family properties, leaving owners to pay out of pocket.

“Owner-occupied three-family homes are just like families in one- or two-family homes,” Felder said. “They’re taxed the same, they should be treated the same.”

Felder said the legislation is aimed at easing rising costs for homeowners. “If the city mandates new bins, they should provide them,” he said, calling the proposal a “common-sense” fix.

Sanchez said the bill builds on existing sanitation efforts and supports working homeowners. “This thoughtful investment will make a small but noticeable difference in the wallets of homeowners and the blocks they live on,” he said.

The proposal comes as housing affordability remains a challenge for many New York City residents. Tens of thousands of owner-occupied three-family homes, concentrated largely in Brooklyn and Queens, serve as both residences and rental properties, forming a key part of the city’s housing stock.

If approved, the bill would expand the reach of the city’s sanitation program and potentially reduce costs for thousands of small property owners.