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New High-Capacity Trash Cans Aim to Keep the Streets of El Barrio Cleaner

By Jeff Mays | May 20, 2013 10:27am
 In an effort to keep the streets cleaner, East Harlem Councilwoman Mark-Viverito allocated $10,000 from her city council discretionary budget to purchase 18 larger capacity trash cans to be placed around the neighborhood.
East Harlem Gets New Trash Cans
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HARLEM — Melissa Mark-Viverito last year went after people who failed to clean up after their dogs.

Now, the East Harlem city councilwoman is tackling the worst trash-strewn streets of El Barrio.

"I walk the streets and I see people throwing trash on the ground," Mark-Viverito said.

In an effort to keep the streets cleaner, Mark-Viverito allocated $10,000 from her City Council discretionary budget to purchase 18 larger capacity trash cans to be placed around the neighborhood.

The baskets have a capacity that is 25 to 30 percent greater than current waste baskets and are designed to make it more difficult for people to dispose of household trash in them. A pair were unveiled at the bustling intersection of East 116th Street and Third Avenue.

“I’m delighted to celebrate another great step forward in improving cleanliness on such a vibrant Manhattan community,” Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said in a statement.

East Harlemites are concerned about clean streets. Over the last month, 311 has received several complaints from the neighborhood dealing with everything from overflowing trash cans, loose rubbish and dirty sidewalks.

Mark-Viverito said the trash cans are only part of the solution to keeping the neighborhood clean.

Last summer's "There is No Poop Fairy in East Harlem" campaign sent volunteers out to pick up dog poop and provide bags for dog owners to clean up after their animals.

As part of this new anti-trash effort, Mark-Viverito said merchants are being asked to report if a trash can becomes overflowed and even to replace bags with ones provided by the city.

"We would like more assistance from the Sanitation Department but if we want to be a cleaner community we have a responsibility to step up," she said.