Data from the Sanitation Department on residential garbage pickups show that the Upper West Side is producing much less garbage than it does in an average month — likely because many residents have left town amid the pandemic.
The latest data, compiled by The City news site using Sanitation Department data, shows that garbage trucks picked up 24% less garbage on the UWS in April as measured by the weight of the garbage. On the Upper East Side, there was a 28% drop as compared to the prior year.
“All but a dozen of the city’s 59 community districts saw declines in refuse, recycling and organic waste collected this April versus last — topped by a 32% plunge for Greenwich Village and SoHo,” The City reported.
March data had shown smaller declines.
A map showing the changes is below. From the map, it looks like nearly all of the city except for Staten Island is throwing out less.
Let the disparaging remarks begin
People are leaving and they’re not coming back.
Yeah, Jean, just like after 9/11…
I would never wish for this disaster and suffering or anything like it ever again – but the peace and lack of crowds has been a blessing. And the kindness and concern of people staying, working, surviving.
We know a return to vitality will bring noise and garbage. I hope some of the human concern will not fade.
This is interesting.
Obvious drops from folks who have left the city, but I wonder how much the average household garbage output has changed. We’ve remained in the city. I have noticed we are producing much more garbage in our home than normal, given we’re spending all our time and all meals at home (i.e., both my husband and I would have breakfast and lunch at work – 10 more meals a week at home means more consumption and some output).
Additionally, the rise of an intense focus on cleanliness and PPE use may be with less environmentally friendly practices. More cleaning (disposable Lysol wipes for example), more PPE (sometimes reusable isn’t the best but therefore plastic gloves in the trash, disposable masks). We’ve tried to find the right balance but it’s hard. And given the GrowNYC compost program was halted, we’re sadly contributing much more organic waste to the garbage. That part makes me very sad.
Many would believe or think otherwise, but there is more wealth today down in Greenwich Village, West Village and SoHo than much of UES. If you add Tribeca and Financial District number grows larger still.
Yes, UWS has seen some loss of inhabitants due to covid-19 situation, but things are not as dire compared to large swaths of UES, and other areas mentioned previously.
Tribeca, Battery Park City, SoHo, Greenwich and West Village are almost like ghost towns
Yesterday’s (5/15) NYT article about the most affluent neighborhoods emptying out from the pandemic is a good companion piece. It pretty much confirms, in more specific tracts, how many people fled from parts of the UWS.
Why is the sanitation dept picking up garbage at 5 am Four days a week and waking everyone up. And when I asked them this question they told me to move. Total idiots.