BROOKLYN, N.Y. (VINnews) — New York City homeowners will not face fines for failing to comply with the city’s new trash bin requirement until at least September, following concerns about widespread shortages of the mandated containers.

Councilman Simcha Felder said the Department of Sanitation has agreed to issue warnings rather than summonses through Sept. 7 for owners of one-to-nine-unit residential properties who have not yet obtained the city’s official trash bins. The city also extended the deadline for residents to apply for reimbursement for bin purchases until the same date.

The decision came after Felder and a bipartisan group of 22 City Council members urged Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to delay enforcement, arguing that many residents have been unable to obtain the required bins despite months of trying.

“New Yorkers are understandably frustrated after spending months trying to purchase these bins, only to encounter limited availability, delays, and dead ends,” Felder said. He praised Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson for recognizing that residents should not be penalized for failing to purchase bins that remain difficult to obtain.

According to Felder, homeowners have reported challenges locating the bins through retailers and delivery services, problems that were compounded after the original manufacturer left the New York market last year.

The city’s bin requirement currently applies only to household trash and does not extend to recycling or compost collection, a distinction that some residents have found confusing.

Supporters of the delay note that residents have already been required to place trash in containers with secure lids since November 2024, a measure intended to help reduce rodent activity and keep garbage contained.

Felder said the city should focus on helping residents comply rather than imposing penalties while supply issues persist. He also said he would seek another extension if shortages have not been resolved by the September deadline.

The request for a moratorium was backed by more than 20 council members from across the city, reflecting bipartisan concern over the rollout of the new requirement.