New York City began installing residential Empire Bins in Brooklyn on October 29, 2026, starting on Garden Place in Brooklyn Heights. More than 700 of the locked, on-street trash containers are going in across Brooklyn Community District 2, and the city expects the district’s trash to be fully containerized by the end of fall.
Key Takeaways
- Brooklyn buildings with 31 or more units must use Empire Bins, and buildings with 10 to 30 units had until July 31, 2026, to opt in.
- Each Empire Bin holds about four cubic yards of trash, roughly 25 large 32-gallon bags, according to the Department of Sanitation.
- Only building staff with an access card or the city’s mobile app can open a bin, so residents cannot use them directly.
- Violations of the containerization rule carry fines of $100, then $200, then $300 for repeat violations within 12 months.
- Six more community districts, including Brooklyn Community District 8 and Manhattan’s West Village, are scheduled for Empire Bins in 2027.
Brooklyn’s First Residential Empire Bins Go In on Garden Place
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sanitation Commissioner Gregory Anderson installed the first bin on a Brooklyn Heights block on Thursday, launching the rollout across Brooklyn Community District 2. The district covers Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Fulton Ferry, DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Brooklyn Community District 2 is the second district in New York City to containerize all of its residential trash, following Manhattan Community District 9 in West Harlem, where about 1,100 Empire Bins have operated for more than a year. In July, the Department of Sanitation projected about 1,700 bins for the full Brooklyn district, so the 700 now being installed mark the first phase of the buildout.
Empire Bins Are Locked Containers Assigned to a Single Building
Empire Bins are stationary containers placed in the street, each assigned to one building for that building’s trash only. Building staff open them with an access card or, according to the city’s October 29 announcement, a mobile app. Residents cannot unlock them, and the bins on a block are not shared among neighbors.
The Department of Sanitation empties the bins with automated side-loading trucks, the first of their kind in North America. One practical change for supers is timing. Under the old system, trash bags could not go to the curb until 8 p.m. With Empire Bins, staff can take trash out at any hour, a point the building workers’ union 32BJ highlighted at the launch.
Building Size Determines Which Bins Each Brooklyn Property Uses
Buildings With 31 or More Units Must Use Empire Bins
Large residential buildings in Brooklyn Community District 2 are required to use Empire Bins under a Department of Sanitation rule that set October 15, 2026, as the compliance date. Owners had to register each property separately by July 31. Buildings whose trash is collected from a loading dock are not covered by the requirement.
Buildings With 10 to 30 Units Had One Month to Opt In
Medium buildings could request Empire Bins between July 1 and July 31, 2026. That window is now closed. Medium buildings that did not opt in must set out trash in official NYC Bins, the rigid lidded containers sold through authorized vendors.
Buildings With 9 or Fewer Units Already Use Official NYC Bins
Brownstones and other small buildings have been required to use official NYC Bins for trash since June 1, 2026, with full enforcement beginning September 8. Recycling can still go out in clear bags or bins, while food scraps must go in a labeled, lidded bin of 55 gallons or less.
Owners Take On New Cleaning and Staffing Duties
The Department of Sanitation maintains the bins themselves, but building owners are responsible for the space around them. Under the adopted rule, owners must keep the bin and its lid clean and clear of snow and ice, along with the area between multiple bins, the area beside any bollards or street markings, and 1.5 feet of roadway around each container.
Owners must also give staff the Department of Sanitation’s training materials and protective gloves. Bulk items such as furniture cannot go inside an Empire Bin and still go to the curb on collection day. When a building changes hands, the new owner must notify the department right away. These obligations add to other recent city rules on building upkeep, including same-day judge assignments for buildings with hazardous conditions in Housing Court.
Fines Start at $100 for Buildings That Do Not Comply
The containerization rule sets penalties at $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within 12 months, and $300 for a third or later violation within 12 months. The same rule formally designates Brooklyn Community District 2 a pilot area through October 15, 2027, while the city collects data. Commissioner Gregory Anderson described the Brooklyn launch as “not another pilot,” pointing to the city’s goal of containerizing all residential trash by the end of 2031.
Parking Rules Change Around Each Bin
Empire Bins occupy curb space that previously held parked cars. Drivers can still use legal spots next to the bins, but the Department of Sanitation prohibits double parking within four car lengths on either side of a bin so trucks can reach it on schedule.
Shared Bins and the 2027 Expansion Come Next
Brooklyn is also where the Department of Sanitation plans to test shared Empire Bins, which would let several small properties on one block use a single container. Owners interested in the pilot can enroll through the department’s customer service email.
Next year, Empire Bins are scheduled for six more districts: Bronx Community Districts 2 and 5, Queens Community District 2, Manhattan Community District 2, Brooklyn Community District 8 and Staten Island Community District 1. The city expects that phase to bring more than 6,500 bins to more than 3,500 buildings.
FAQs
What are Empire Bins?
Empire Bins are locked, stationary trash containers placed in the street and assigned to a single residential building. The Department of Sanitation empties them using automated side-loading trucks.
Which Brooklyn buildings have to use Empire Bins?
Buildings with 31 or more units in Brooklyn Community District 2 must use them. Buildings with 10 to 30 units could opt in by July 31, 2026, and all others use official NYC Bins.
Can residents put their own trash in an Empire Bin?
No. Only building staff with an access card or the city’s app, along with Department of Sanitation crews, can open a bin.
What are the fines for not following Empire Bin rules?
The rule sets fines of $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within 12 months, and $300 for each later violation within 12 months.
Can drivers still park next to Empire Bins?
Yes, in legal parking spots. Double parking is not allowed within four car lengths on either side of a bin.
