No Trash, Curbside Composting, or Recycling Collection on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – NYC.gov

Report on New York City Sanitation Service Adjustments and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Service Bulletin: Election Day 2025 Schedule Modification

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a service alteration notice for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in observance of Election Day. This adjustment directly impacts the city’s waste management operations, which are foundational to achieving several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Operational Changes and Public Guidance

To accommodate the holiday, the following changes to municipal solid waste collection will be in effect:

• Suspension of Services: There will be no collection of trash, Curbside Composting, or recycling on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
• Revised Collection Schedule: Residents with Tuesday collection routes are instructed to place their materials at the curb on Tuesday evening. Collection services for these materials will commence on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

The DSNY advises that post-holiday collection may experience delays due to increased material volume. Public patience is requested as crews work to restore normal service levels.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The DSNY’s operations, including this scheduled adjustment, are integral to New York City’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The department’s work in waste collection, recycling, and street cleaning is a direct implementation of strategies aimed at creating a sustainable urban environment.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By managing the city’s waste streams and ensuring streets are kept clean, safe, and healthy, the DSNY directly contributes to Target 11.6, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, particularly concerning municipal waste management. The department’s extensive fleet and district garages represent the critical infrastructure necessary for a sustainable megacity.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The specific mention of Curbside Composting and recycling collection highlights the city’s efforts to advance Target 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation. These programs are essential components of a circular economy, diverting organic and recyclable materials from landfills.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action: The Curbside Composting program is a significant climate mitigation tool. By diverting organic waste from landfills, the DSNY helps reduce the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, thereby contributing to climate action.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The fundamental mission of the DSNY—to maintain city cleanliness—is a pillar of public health. Efficient waste collection prevents the spread of disease and ensures a safe living environment for all New Yorkers.

Departmental Capacity and Strategic Initiatives

The DSNY’s capacity to support these SDGs is substantial, underscored by its extensive operational resources:

• A network of 59 district garages.
• A fleet of over 2,000 collection trucks, 450 mechanical brooms, and 705 salt spreaders.
• Specialized machinery for bike lane operations.

Under the current administration, the Department has expanded its cleaning initiatives to over 1,000 previously neglected areas, furthering the goal of equitable access to clean and safe public spaces (SDG 11). With the highest wintertime uniformed headcount in two decades, the DSNY is strategically positioned to maintain operational continuity and public safety across approximately 19,000 lane-miles of city streets, reinforcing the city’s resilience and sustainability.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article is fundamentally about municipal services that make a city sustainable. The New York City Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) mandate to keep the city “clean, safe, and healthy” through waste management directly supports the goal of creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The specific mention of “recycling” and “Curbside Composting” services connects directly to SDG 12. These services are key components of sustainable production and consumption patterns, aiming to reduce waste and make better use of resources.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
   • The article states that DSNY’s work keeps New York City “healthy.” Effective waste collection, street cleaning, and the removal of illegally dumped materials are crucial public health measures that prevent the spread of disease and reduce environmental health risks.
4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The DSNY’s role in “cleaning streets” and “attacking the scourge of illegal dumping” contributes to this goal. Proper waste management prevents pollutants from entering water systems through runoff, thereby protecting water quality.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities
   • This target aims to “reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The entire article, focusing on the collection of “trash, Curbside Composting, nor recycling,” is about the operational aspect of municipal waste management.
2. Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation
   • This target seeks to “substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The provision of dedicated services for “recycling” and “Curbside Composting” are direct actions by the city to facilitate waste reduction and support a circular economy.
3. Target 3.9: Reduce illnesses from pollution and contamination
   • This target aims to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” By collecting waste, cleaning streets, and clearing “long-ignored areas,” DSNY actively works to reduce soil and potential water contamination, which are sources of illness.
4. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution
   • This target focuses on “improving water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.” The DSNY’s stated effort to attack “illegal dumping” is a direct measure to prevent waste from polluting land and, subsequently, water sources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicators for Target 11.6
   • While the article does not provide a specific recycling rate or tonnage, it implies the existence of a comprehensive waste management system. The scale of operations, such as “59 district garages,” “2,000 rear-loading collection trucks,” and “450 mechanical brooms,” serves as a proxy indicator for the city’s capacity to manage municipal solid waste effectively.
2. Implied Indicators for Target 12.5
   • The existence of distinct collection services for “Curbside Composting” and “recycling” is an indicator of the city’s commitment to waste diversion. The promotion of these services, even in a holiday schedule announcement, suggests an ongoing effort to increase the recycling rate.
3. Implied Indicators for Targets 3.9 and 6.3
   • The article provides a quantifiable metric of progress by stating that the DSNY is “aggressively cleaning more parts of the City than ever before, including over 1,000 long-ignored areas.” This number can be used as an indicator of the reduction of pollution sources. Furthermore, the mention of cleaning and clearing “19,000 lane-miles of City streets” indicates the vast scope of the service aimed at maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nyc.gov