70 Garbage Cans Coming to Roosevelt Avenue, Another 100 to be Installed in Other Jackson Heights Locations

(Photo: Sen. Jose Peralta’s office)

Nov. 27, 2017 By Tara Law

Officials are hopeful that Roosevelt Avenue’s trash problem will be brought under control with the addition of 70 modern garbage bins.

State Senator Jose Peralta announced today that he secured $164,000 from the state to purchase and install 170 large green garbage cans in partnership with the Department of Sanitation.

Seventy of the garbage cans will be installed on Roosevelt Avenue between 74th Street and 104th Street. The other 100 are likely to be placed on Northern Boulevard, Junction Boulevard and other thoroughfares, Peralta said.

“With additional garbage bins installed along these congested areas in the district, especially along Roosevelt Avenue, residents and visitors will have it much easier to keep the streets clean,” Peralta said.

The large trash cans cost $900 each and will be installed in Spring 2018. Peralta said in an interview that he was surprised by how much they cost but that the rate is determined by the city.

Peralta said that trash in the area has been a “constant” source of complaints from the community.

“Between the brick and mortars, the street vendors and the foot traffic, it’s a lot of trash,” said Peralta.

The bins will have a bigger capacity than the traditional cans and passersby will only be able to dispose their trash through a small hole in the top, preventing people from dumping household garbage.

The bins will lock the garbage in, which will keep out rats.

Peralta said that the new garbage cans are “just the first phase,” and that next year he will push for more trash pickups.