New York City is moving from warnings to full enforcement of its new trash-container requirements, with sanitation officials beginning to issue fines Tuesday to properties that fail to properly containerize their garbage.

The rule applies to residential buildings with one to nine units, as well as houses of worship and nonprofit organizations that receive city garbage collection. All non-recyclable waste placed at the curb must now be secured in an approved, rodent-resistant container rather than loose bags.

The city says the requirement is part of a broader effort to reduce the availability of food and garbage for New York’s persistent rat population while creating a cleaner and more efficient system for residential waste collection.

With the summer grace period now over, sanitation enforcement agents can issue escalating penalties for violations. The first offense carries a $50 fine, a second violation rises to $100, and each subsequent violation can result in a $200 penalty.

Residents and property owners who still need compliant containers can purchase approved rodent-resistant bins online or at major hardware stores, including Home Depot.

The new enforcement marks another major step in the city’s push to change the way residential garbage is stored and collected, with officials hoping that widespread containerization will make sidewalks cleaner and make it more difficult for rats to access the city’s trash.

Fines start soon, NYC!

Starting Sept. 8, residential properties with 1-9 units MUST use an official NYC Bin for trash, or face a $50 fine.

Avoid a fine; get your bin. NYC Bins are available for sale at Home Depot stores throughout the city. More info: https://t.co/QsdlMgO7IR. pic.twitter.com/hmJ1qNPx21

— NYC Sanitation (@NYCSanitation) August 26, 2026