NYC Parks Introduce Special Bins for Pizza Boxes to Combat Rat Problem. New York City is tackling a familiar issue trying to squeeze a square pizza box into a round trash can. On Friday, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced a new initiative to install specially designed trash bins in several city parks, aimed at solving this exact problem.
The new bins, tailored specifically for pizza boxes, are now available in five parks across the city, including Loreto Playground in the Bronx and Saratoga Park in Brooklyn. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce overflowing trash cans and keep rats at bay, particularly in popular public spaces.
Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi highlighted the effort, stating, “Pizza Rat will find no quarter in city parks soon enough, thanks to these pizza-ready trash cans.” The city hopes that by keeping pizza boxes separate from other waste, it will not only reduce litter but also make a dent in the city’s ongoing rat problem.
Six of these bins have been installed in time for the Labor Day weekend, with plans for more if the initiative proves successful. In a nod to New York’s pizza culture, the bins are designed to resemble the classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths found in many local pizzerias.
The pilot program will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these bins, with a test location in Central Park already operational on East Drive between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Great Lawn.
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