NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue recently announced the installation of pizza-friendly disposal bins in various city parks to accommodate the bulky pizza boxes that are often a hassle to cram into traditional garbage cans. The first of six new square bins was installed in Father Demo Square in Greenwich Village, with the rest being rolled out in other parks across the city. This move is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to combat the rat problem that plagues the city streets.
Mayor Eric Adams hopes that the new tan containers, marked with red and white and designated for “empty pizza boxes only,” will help keep the streets clean and deter rats. The mayor has previously taken steps to address the rat issue, such as appointing a “rat czar” and enlisting the help of “anti-rat activists.” Each pizza-friendly bin costs approximately $950 and can be found stationed next to traditional garbage and recycling receptacles in the city parks.
The Central Park Conservancy also set up a similar recycling bin near the Great Lawn in Central Park as part of a pilot program. The green-colored bin is aimed at collecting used pizza boxes, with the conservancy removing more than 100 boxes on busy days from that area of the park alone. This initiative coincided with the announcement of the first “National Urban Rat Summit,” scheduled for September to discuss best practices for rodent mitigation.
The introduction of pizza-friendly disposal bins is meant to address the issue of rats being attracted to leftover food and garbage in city parks. The bins are designed to make it easier for park-goers to properly dispose of their pizza boxes, reducing the amount of leftover food that rats are drawn to. By placing these specialized bins next to traditional garbage and recycling receptacles, the city is taking steps to keep the parks clean and free of food waste that can attract rodents.
The deployment of pizza-friendly disposal bins not only aims to keep the parks clean but also to reduce the rat population in the city. With pizza being a popular food choice for many New Yorkers, the specialized bins provide a convenient and effective way to dispose of pizza boxes without attracting rodents. This initiative, along with other measures taken by the city, demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing the persistent issue of rats in urban environments.
Overall, the introduction of the pizza-friendly disposal bins represents a targeted effort to address a specific aspect of the rat problem in New York City. By providing designated bins for pizza boxes in city parks, the hope is to reduce the food sources that attract rats and help maintain a clean and rodent-free environment. This initiative, along with ongoing efforts to address the rat population in the city, reflects a commitment to improving the quality of life for residents and visitors by combating the presence of rodents in urban areas.
