New York City Department of Sanitation
Encyclopedia
The New York City Department of Sanitation, or DSNY, is a uniformed force of unionized sanitation workers (Local 831 USA of the teamsters) in New York City
. Their responsibilities include garbage collection, recycling
collection, street cleaning, and snow removal
. Like the rest of New York's uniformed forces, they have a nickname: "New York's Strongest." The section of Worth Street
between Centre
and Baxter Streets in Manhattan
is named "Avenue of the Strongest" in their honor. The New York City Department of Sanitation is the largest sanitation department in the world, with 7,899 uniformed sanitation workers and supervisors, 2,041 civilian workers, 2,230 collection trucks, 275 specialized collection trucks, 450 street sweepers, 365 salt and sand spreaders, 298 front end loaders, 2,360 support vehicles, and handles over 12,000 tons of residential and institutional refuse and recyclables a day. Under Commissioner John J. Doherty, New York City's streets are reportedly the cleanest that they have been in over 30 years.
, pioneered such current practices as recycling, street sweeping, and a dedicated uniformed cleaning and collection force.
Force, The illegal dumping task force, the Permit and Inspection Unit and the Environmental Enforcement Unit, composed of uniformed and undercover officers who handle sanitation related emergency calls, and enforce sanitation related laws in addition to state and city traffic and criminal laws in the 5 boroughs
of New York City
. DSNY officers are NYS peace officer
certified by the NYS Municipal Police Training Council. Officers can carry and use firearm
s, carry and use handcuffs, make warrantless arrests
, issue summonses
, and use physical and deadly force. The police force uses marked and unmarked police car
s.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Their responsibilities include garbage collection, recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
collection, street cleaning, and snow removal
Snow removal
Snow removal is the job of removing snow after a snowfall to make travel easier and safer. This is done by both individual households and by governments and institutions.-De-icing and anti-icing:...
. Like the rest of New York's uniformed forces, they have a nickname: "New York's Strongest." The section of Worth Street
Worth Street (Manhattan)
Worth Street is a two-way street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. It runs from Hudson Street, TriBeCa, in the west to Chatham Square in the east. Past Chatham Square, the roadway continues as Oliver Street, which runs one-way north- and westbound. Between West Broadway and Church Street,...
between Centre
Centre Street (Manhattan)
Centre Street runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Centre Street runs from Park Row and continues north to Delancey Street where it merges with Lafayette Street....
and Baxter Streets in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
is named "Avenue of the Strongest" in their honor. The New York City Department of Sanitation is the largest sanitation department in the world, with 7,899 uniformed sanitation workers and supervisors, 2,041 civilian workers, 2,230 collection trucks, 275 specialized collection trucks, 450 street sweepers, 365 salt and sand spreaders, 298 front end loaders, 2,360 support vehicles, and handles over 12,000 tons of residential and institutional refuse and recyclables a day. Under Commissioner John J. Doherty, New York City's streets are reportedly the cleanest that they have been in over 30 years.
History
DSNY was founded in 1881 as the Department of Street Cleaning. One of the Department's first Commissioners, Colonel George E. Waring, Jr.George E. Waring, Jr.
George E. Waring, Jr. was an American sanitary engineer and civic reformer. He was an early American designer and advocate of sewer systems that keep domestic sewage separate from storm runoff....
, pioneered such current practices as recycling, street sweeping, and a dedicated uniformed cleaning and collection force.
Law enforcement
DSNY has its own police force, which is composed of four specialized units: The Uniformed Sanitation PoliceNew York City Department of Sanitation Police
The New York City Department of Sanitation Police is the law enforcement arm of the New York City Department of Sanitation...
Force, The illegal dumping task force, the Permit and Inspection Unit and the Environmental Enforcement Unit, composed of uniformed and undercover officers who handle sanitation related emergency calls, and enforce sanitation related laws in addition to state and city traffic and criminal laws in the 5 boroughs
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. DSNY officers are NYS peace officer
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
certified by the NYS Municipal Police Training Council. Officers can carry and use firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s, carry and use handcuffs, make warrantless arrests
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
, issue summonses
Summons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
, and use physical and deadly force. The police force uses marked and unmarked police car
Police car
A police car is a ground vehicle used by police, to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly, to transport criminal suspects, or to patrol an area, while providing a...
s.