Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Removing Garbage Cans Actually Helps Keep Stations Clean
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 20, 2012
Modified Feb 20, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 20, 2012
Modified Feb 20, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Remember last year when the MTA decided to try an experiment and remove the platform trash cans from the Eighth Street on the N/R lines and Main Street on the 7 line stations? At the time we were all kind of skeptical that it might actually lead to a reduction in station trash. Well, aren't we pleasantly surprised: It apparently has been working!
According to transit officials, "Cleaners have been bagging less trash from platforms and tracks at the two stops" since the cans went away. The News even found formally skeptical straphangers who now support the idea: "I was against it at first, but I think it has worked well," a 63-year-old credit union manager from Brooklyn said. "I thought it would create a lot of junk, but it looks better."
So now the question is if and when the MTA follows through and expands the program to other stations in the system. The MTA currently hauls 14,000 tons of trash a year, so cutting back on that could be good for the bottom line. As for when that might happen, the MTA is currently keeping its cans close.
Tagged
garbage
garbage bin
MTA
platform
subway
subway station
trash
trash can
trash cans
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University
The governor said she does not have faith that the police and the Tompkins County DA effectively investigated the case.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 9:04 p.m. ET
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
Joseph LoGiudice is the second therapist at Liberation Psychotherapy to be accused of sexually abusing a patient.
By
Giulia Heyward
US judge in NY indefinitely blocks ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses
By
Arya Sundaram
Lawyer challenging NYC rent freeze releases Mamdani officials’ emails and text messages
By
David Brand
Push to strengthen NY sexual assault laws gathers steam after Cornell rape allegations
By
Walter Wuthmann
and
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .