Photo: THOMAS URBAIN / AFP / Getty Images
Mountains of garbage are continuing to accumulate on New York City sidewalks as sanitation crews struggle to catch up with collection following Winter Storm Fern, which blanketed the city with approximately a foot of snow more than a week ago.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged Monday that garbage collection is running about 24 hours behind schedule, with the delay primarily caused by sanitation workers being diverted to snow removal operations during what he called potentially the "harshest winter stretch New York has ever seen."
"I know that they are working with everything that they have to come up to speed and that will be a focus for us," Mamdani said during a press conference at the city's municipal building, according to the New York Post.
The Department of Sanitation reports that hundreds of collection trucks are operating during each 12-hour shift to address the backlog. Officials say they're prioritizing regular trash and compost collection over recyclables, though all waste streams are being collected with delays.
"Given that the same Sanitation Workers who pick up trash have been clearing the foot of snow and ice that fell last Sunday, we are about one day behind on collection, and we ask for patience from New Yorkers while we catch up," a DSNY spokesperson said in a statement.
The situation has sparked frustration across multiple boroughs. On the Upper East Side, residents reported an 8-foot-high mountain of trash near Gracie Mansion that was finally cleared Monday. However, other significant piles remain, including a 75-foot long row of trash bags outside apartment buildings along East 83rd Street near Second Avenue.
One sanitation worker collecting recyclables described confusion within the department, telling the New York Post, "We don't know what we're picking up when we come in in the morning. We set up for one thing at night and then the next morning they sent us out with a totally different job."
The extreme cold has complicated cleanup efforts. According to Gothamist, the National Weather Service forecasts at least another week of below-freezing temperatures, offering no immediate relief from the icy conditions that have transformed once-white snow into dingy gray and yellow mounds blocking crosswalks and bike lanes.
The situation has been particularly challenging for residents with mobility issues. Martha Mendez, a 67-year-old Washington Heights resident who relies on a motorized wheelchair, told Gothamist she hadn't been able to leave her home for days because of fears she'd tip over or her wheels would get stuck in the snow and ice.
While city officials ask for patience, many New Yorkers are questioning how long they'll need to navigate through mountains of trash as they go about their daily lives. Sanitation officials continue to urge residents to place their trash curbside according to normal schedules despite the ongoing collection delays.
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