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Dear New Yorkers,

New York City’s sanitation department is putting the lid on residents using their own curbside garbage containers, as part of Mayor Eric Adams’ war on trash and rats.

Soon, homeowners and landlords of residences with nine or fewer units will have to use city-approved trash bins produced by only one vendor.

On Monday, a city board reviewed a pending agreement with Duramax Holdings LLC, which agreed to be the sole vendor of the two-wheeled bins to New Yorkers for a decade — plus the option to renew for two additional five-year terms, according to the contract.

The company aims to sell almost 3.4 million bins, nearly a million of which are to be delivered by Nov. 1 of this year. All affected residences will have to comply starting in 2026, the sanitation department says.

Owners of residential buildings will be able to buy the bins at a discounted price of $50 each — well below an estimated $150 retail cost, according to the sanitation department.

Read more about the new bins here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 6/10. Increasing clouds today, with high temperatures noticeably cooler than yesterday — close to 60° F during the afternoon. A few scattered showers are possible, but it's not a washout at all. The vibes are a little more unsettled today.

Our Other Top Stories

Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about being highly available to anyone in the city — even giving out his cellphone number to students and creating a hotline just for constituents. But now, elected officials wanting to talk to his team will now have to fill out a form and wait for a reply. The mayor’s team just announced a two-page “elected officials engagement form,” which officials outside the administration are to fill out for meetings and other requests. The announcement prompted immediate pushback from Council members who count on emailing or calling agency heads and executive team members with questions and concerns. Councilmember Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan), said she’s worked with mayors since Ed Koch and never heard of a centralized intake process for contacting government officials. “I’m not filling out any form,” she announced to a room of reporters at City Hall on Tuesday. New York City’s office market is currently stalled, with the vacancy rate stuck at a record high. The weak office market continues to hamper the city’s economy, even though total jobs are back to their pre-pandemic level. And the best hope for improvement in the near future depends on whether the governor and the legislature can agree on legislation to speed the conversion of office space into housing. Participatory budgeting is underway this week in 24 out of 51 Council districts. It’s a process by which residents are asked to direct how the city spends a slice of its capital funds to improve infrastructure in their communities. Find out more in THE CITY’s guide.

Reporter’s Notebook

Troubled Bridge Over Interborough Waters to Get $15M Revamp

A 121-year-old bridge that links Brooklyn and Queens over Newtown Creek is getting a $15 million replacement.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday said the federally funded replacement of the city-owned Grand Street Bridge will strengthen the structure against future storm surges and rising sea levels by elevating its electrical and mechanical equipment.

“Unfortunately, Superstorm Sandy inflicted serious damage to this vital conduit, making its replacement absolutely critical,” Gillibrand said.

The two-lane swing bridge will also include wider paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

THE CITY reported in November that buses from a nearby MTA depot that weigh between 21 and 34 tons had to rerouted away from the Grand Street Bridge after the Transportation Department placed a temporary 13-ton weight limit on the structure in order to do urgent repairs.

— Jose Martinez

Solar Energy’s Eclipse Dip

Solar power generated across New York state dropped by about 80% during Monday’s eclipse, according to the New York Independent System Operator, which runs the grid. Before the eclipse began, solar projects generated over 3,000 megawatts or energy — enough to power about half a million homes. By 3:30 p.m., the power generated dipped to less than 600 megawatts. NYISO said hydro power and thermal generation made up for the loss during that time. It wasn’t just the moon blocking the sun that affected the amount of energy produced — the clouds played a role too.

— Samantha Maldonado

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Wednesday, April 10 and Friday, April 12: Spring First Discoveries, with special activities for nature-lovers age 4 and under. Free with admission on Wednesdays and Fridays through June 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Saturday, April 13: The 2024 New York Restoration Project Tree Giveaway. Free trees will be available at various times and locations across the five boroughs. Registration required. Monday, April 15: Written Work: Poetry, Labor, and the Global City, the kickoff event of the New York Public Library’s World Literature Festival — a book party “unpacking the pleasures and pain of working in the city.” Free from 6:30 p.m. online and in-person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library.

THE KICKER: Keep an eye on 55 Water St.’s falcon cam — you may soon see hatchlings.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Wednesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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