After Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) advocated with the city’s Department of Sanitation to restore the garbage cans that had been removed from several corners along a portion of the Kings Highway commercial strip, the agency has returned many of the trash cans to their old locations.

In late September, DSNY restored the cans along Kings Highway between West Sixth Street and Stillwell Avenue, though it declined to put a can near the Highlawn Avenue N train station, saying that it “wasn’t warranted.” The cans had been removed by the agency because of repeated misuse; people had been putting bags of household and commercial trash into them, which is not permitted. The result of this misuse is overflowing cans, bags of trash on the street, and bags that split open, spilling refuse onto the sidewalk, which is unsightly, can smell unpleasant, and attracts vermin.

“I am delighted that the Department of Sanitation listened to my request,” said Assemblyman Colton. “Even when the cans were absent, people were still leaving garbage at the corners, which had a tremendously deleterious effect on neighborhood cleanliness. The return of the cans will hopefully mean a cleaner merchant strip, which is so important both to the residents who walk along there, and the businesspeople who depend upon their purchases.”

While pleased that the cans are back, Assemblyman Colton has a warning for people who may be tempted to toss bags of household or commercial garbage into them. “I understand that both businesses and residents may be tempted to skirt the regulations and use the corner baskets improperly,” he said. “But, understand that you can receive a $100 fine for doing so. Save yourself the money by disposing of your trash properly. Simply put, don’t do it!”