Winter sanitation schedule now in effect across New York City

The New York City Department of Sanitation has transitioned to its annual winter schedule, adding overnight staff to improve response times when snow hits the city streets.

The schedule change means residents may notice their trash, compost, and recycling picked up at slightly different times than usual. The department recommends setting materials out by midnight on scheduled collection days to ensure pickup.

When snow is not forecast, overnight sanitation workers will handle cleaning and collection duties as part of the city’s ongoing effort to reduce street debris and rat populations. The winter schedule typically runs through at least mid-April, though the department will reassess as needed.

The department maintains more than 700 salt spreaders ready to deploy at the first sign of fr