Official New York City trash bins are now available for purchase at several Brooklyn Home Depot locations as the city prepares to require their use for many residential buildings starting in June.
The New York City Department of Sanitation on Wednesday announced that all nine sizes and colors of the official bins are now stocked at Home Depot stores across the city.
The new containers are part of the city’s broader push to move away from traditional black garbage bags left on sidewalks. Officials say containerizing trash is intended to reduce street clutter, reclaim sidewalk space and help address rodent problems.
Buildings with one to nine residential units will be required to place trash in the official bins beginning in June 2026. The rule applies to many of Brooklyn’s smaller apartment buildings, brownstones and single-family homes.
Since the bins were first introduced in Jul. 2024, roughly one million have already been ordered by New Yorkers. City officials say the rollout is showing early results. Reports of rat sightings submitted through 311 have declined every month since Nov. 2024 compared with the same months a year earlier, marking 15 consecutive months of decreases.
The containers come in several sizes to accommodate different types of properties. The 45-gallon bin, recommended for buildings with multiple units, can hold up to four standard kitchen trash bags. A 35-gallon version is designed for smaller buildings or single-family homes and holds about three kitchen-sized bags.
A smaller 25-gallon option is also available for properties with limited space or lower trash output. In addition to trash containers, the city is offering compost bins in both 21-gallon and 13-gallon sizes.
While the official bin is required only for trash, matching containers are also available for recycling streams such as paper and metal, glass and plastic. Compost bins are offered for households participating in the city’s organic waste collection program.
