« Blimpies Controversy Revisited by the Grey Lady Bay Ridge's Reining In of Non-Contextual Building »

August 8, 2005

NewYork's Dirtiest: Stinkin' Sanitation Cops

According to the NY Post, Fort Greene homeowners are getting smacked by sanitation cops with $100 "dirty sidewalk" fines for s couple of slips of paper. We had our own run-in in South Williamsburg with a real gem of a sanitation cop last year when a neighbor from two doors down started hurling bags of garbage at our front door, mistakenly under the impression that we had been putting our household garbage in his cans. Mrs. B, baby in arms, stepped outside to confront the guy just as a sanitation cop pulled up. As the large man was screaming in her face menacingly, the cop, rather than try to do anything to physically protect her, starting writing her a ticket for the garbage on our stoop. After the neighbor finally backed off, Mrs. B asked for the sanitation cop's name to act as a witness if she decided to file assault charges. The cop just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I didn't see nuthin'." And with that drove off.

Any other stories about run-ins with the sanitation cops?
City Play Dirty with Tix [NY Post]




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:23 AM | Comments (48)
Categories: General

Comments

oh wow, that's awful.
our Ft Greene sanitation cop was very nice the one time I talked to him (only been in the neighborhood 3 months).

Posted by: lc at August 8, 2005 9:56 AM

Last week I called 311 to report that the street sweeper was regularly coming about 1/2 before the posted time so that there were many cars still parked on that side and the street could not be properly cleaned. I didn't leave any personal data, but gave the street and avenue intersections.

The next day, every house on the block was carefully examined by the dsny enforcers and issued summons - our was a $25 for mixed recylcing.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 10:09 AM

What's mixed recycling?

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 10:22 AM

I was issued a $25 fine for mixed recycling in Ditmas Park. I'm not always the most careful recycler, so perhaps it was deserved. However, I do NOT deserve to have trashcans (my neighbors) left blocking my driveway or trash scattered all over my lawn by sloppy sanitation workers. This all started to happen, by the way, after one of the sanitation workers made it clear to me that he did particularly care for the amount of trash I was throwing out one morning, although it did not exceed city guidelines.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 10:58 AM

Anyone have any tips to deal with people going through your garbarge? Every time I put mine out I wake up to find the bags opened and garbage strewn all over the sidewalk. I'm not always home to put it out in time for the morning collection.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 11:06 AM

we tip our trash guys 50 bucks every dec and they are pretty good about collecting odd things or taking an extra bag etc since we've done this. the dsny people haven't been to us yet in Clinton hill but that stuff scares me cause they can do whatever they want fair or not and you can't reason with
them. there is always some type of trash in front of my house by the time i get home from work- you should get a warning first on a first time violation

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 11:06 AM

sorry wrong thread.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 11:06 AM

Say what you will, but the solution to nearly any and all problems with the Sanitation Dept is tipping, aka bribery. We have a problem with people going through our trash here in Brooklyn Heights too, but we haven't been fined since we started tipping the trash guys $100 at Christmas a few years ago.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 12:21 PM

Don't get me started about our DOS - or as I call them "New York's Dumbest".

They will look for any reason not to pick up the garbage and no it is not becase they are concerned about the enviornment. It is because they can't wait to get back to the "office" - whereever that maybe - open up a few cold ones and call it a day.

Lets privatize!

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 12:43 PM

First they take you to the cleaners...
then they clean up.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 1:02 PM

As for sanitation cops -- I agree they are New York's dirtiest. We were out-of-town one weekend last year, and got a $100 ticket for having a dirty side walk. I believe the ticket said something about the officer having witnessed some "4 candy wrappers and a coke can" on our sidewalk. Nevermind that it was garbage collection day and the way the garbage men pick up the garbage, they were probably the ones that put the garbage on the sidewalk in the first place. I was so bitter that I actually decided to go to the hearing and challenge it -- for those of you thinking about it, don't bother, that process is even more corrupt. When I got to the hearing, after speaking with the so called "judge" (who appeared to me to be a high school drop out who couldn't get a better job), the "judge" decided that even though we weren't home that entire weekend, we were still responsible for the dirt on the sidewalk. The sanitation officer didn't even bother to show up ("judge" decided he wasn't necessary). It was only after I left this kangaroo court that I realized that the slip of paper that you walk in with basically has a bunch of different ways that the hearing can be disposed of by the "judge" (and the "judge" has to check one off) but none of these ways are an acquittal. Basically, the job of the "judge" is to find you guilty one way or the other.

As for the bribery -- of course it works -- but I refuse to do it. Imagine if every government employee required bribery to do their job (which they are already quite well compensated for).

We live in Sheepshead Bay -- my wife likes to say garbage men stink. They sometimes randomly decide that they won't pick up all of the garbage. When they do pick up the garbage, inevitably they leave the garbage cans tossed all over the side walk. I know of many people who complained and found tickets for this that or the other thing the next day.

These people should all be prosecuted for bribery and extortion! Thank you Brownstoner for speaking up!

Posted by: Pissed off in Sheepshead Bay at August 8, 2005 1:02 PM

We just bribe the sanitation police.

Posted by: Tony at August 8, 2005 1:18 PM

We live in Prospect Park South, on a corner lot, with two separate sanitation crews responsible for the two streets. I put out a number of boxes on one street, most broken down, a few still cubed. The crew took all the intact boxes but left the flattened ones. The next week, I left the recycling at the other pick up spot with the other crew, this time not breaking down the boxes. I got a $25 ticket. Go figure.
This kind of regressive tax (the way that I see it) includes the traffic cops as well and is one of the reasons why I think Bloomburg doesn't really understand that a lot of us don't have all sorts of spare cash to pay for arbitrary tickets.

Posted by: Jimmy at August 8, 2005 1:26 PM

I go out of my way to put as much dog poop and shop vac dust (unbagged) as possible in my cans. Then I serupticiously watch them pick it up and deal with the smell, mess and dust clouds, and I laugh my ass off.

Their attitude stinks worse than the cans.

Screw them!!

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 1:43 PM

I have a few chronic sanitation problems on my block. I report them very often, not much gets done. I have complained to the Coummunity Board, to no avail. Just last week I complained about the issues and left my information on their website, the next day I got a summons for mixed recycling $25. I guess that was their little "keep Quiet" message to me. I am going to start videotaping the collection on days I am home. These guys truly are unbelievable and I guess immune.

Posted by: Tom at August 8, 2005 1:57 PM

We did our own renovation and couldn't get a dumpster in time for the demo we had planned, so we just filled up our front yard with about thirty bags of old plaster from the walls and ceilings. One morning very early a sanitation worker rang our bell and asked us if we wanted to get rid of it for $50 bucks. They backed up the truck and in less than ten minutes it was gone. I worked as a building mechanic for ten years, in luxury high rises. You wouldn't believe what people would try to thrown down the trash chute. I have smelled it all. That is why sanitation workers can do no wrong in my book. Remember you can catch more flies with honey!

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 2:20 PM

are people saying on this post that if you call to complain they will then come after you to fine you? I knew it was bad but I didn't realize it was this blatantly corrupt. what is up with this? they can do whatever they want?

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 2:38 PM

Someone should call up one of those TV news shows to track these guys and show what sorts of things they get up to. Would raise the profile of the problem and make retaliatory fines easier to fight if there was a PR battle going on.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 2:47 PM

I have many sanitation stories to add to the discussion, but I'll spare you all. Suffice it to say that I've observed all of the problems that have been raised. I've complained. In retaliation, I have even had sanitation workers dump my neighbor's fully loaded garbage can over my fence and onto my front garden. Yup, that's right, you heard me. Do you think there was any disiplinary action. Nope, just more juvenile antics.

Dept of sanitation has got to be the most currupt of city agencies, next to DOB. And I REFUSE to submit to bribery. Dealing with city agencies is one of those reasons I sometimes seriously consider moving to the burbs.

Posted by: BigBubba at August 8, 2005 3:00 PM

I received from another city agency a violation for my rock garden located within my areaway. This same rock garden was admired by the BBG when they evaluated my block for the Greenest Block in Brooklyn, I had 5 days to remove the rocks, driftwood,and shells or be charged $1000 per day for them to remove it and receive a misdemeanor and lien on my house. It was deemed "refuse". I moved them rock by rock to my back yard - so it is not "refuse" in my back yard?

Posted by: Susan at August 8, 2005 3:22 PM


I've been tipping the sanitation guys on Christmas for years, and there's no question the $100 goes a long way. I have a multifamily building and since I started tipping, I haven't received a single garbage violation, so it's definitely an economically smart choice.

The single biggest sanitation problem I see is that garbage is not picked up on holidays, so every holiday, the streets are jam packed with trash cans and bags. What's the big deal with paying some guys extra to work on holidays? Also, during the winter, the city should find a way to pick up garbage even when there's a lot of snow. Taxis never disappear. Why do the garbage trucks?

The biggest quality of life problem I see with NYC is not drugs or crime, but dirty, littered streets and parks. Just because NYC is so large why does it have to be so filthy? Where the hell do all the taxes go? Why are cities like Boston and Chicago so much cleaner?

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 4:02 PM

I've never tipped the sanitation guys with anything more than a big "hello" or friendly wave or polite inquiry into how their day is going for them. They seem to appreciate being regarded as human beings and my usual reward is simple, good service. Do they do a perfect job all the time? Of course not! Who does?

These guys have the nastiest, thankless job that most of us would never, ever even consider doing. But just because they deal with our garbage doesn't mean we have to treat them like garbage. Instead of giving them your unbagged dog poop and shop vac refuse, why don't you "try a little tenderness" sometimes? It works.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 4:37 PM

Next to crime and noise, I agree that litter is one of my biggest issues with NYC. The beauty of this city is often marred by the garbage in the streets.

Posted by: BigBubba at August 8, 2005 4:56 PM

Are people confusing sanitation pickup guys with sanitation police/enforcers?
I don't think the guys that pick up/or refuse to pick up that you are tipping write the tix.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 5:13 PM

My first instinct was to think, "yeah, those lousy garbagemen". But I thought about how, when we have lots of trash for any reason, they let me throw bags in the hopper myself if I exceed the limit. We (my wife and I) and my neighbors do pick up litter in front as we come and go. The collectors usually return my receptacle to my areaway. I did once receive a warning to not to mix recyclables in the trash, without being fined.

You've got to remember: there are different crews working different routes. I'm sure there are bad guys out there. But there are good guys too.

New York is full of people who litter, recycle carelessly, leave dog poop, and dump illegally. That's why the city is filthy.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 8, 2005 5:27 PM

I've always wanted to tip the garbage collectors, but they normally collect on my block between 3-5AM. To those of you who tip them, how do you do it? Pull an all-nighter waiting for them to come? Is there another way? Thanks!

Posted by: nms at August 8, 2005 9:08 PM

Anyone have any tips to deal with people going through your garbarge? Every time I put mine out I wake up to find the bags opened and garbage strewn all over the sidewalk. I'm not always home to put it out in time for the morning collection.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 9, 2005 10:16 AM


Once you make initial contact with your garbage guy and let him know you'll be waiting for him around Christmas time, he'll show up. You should introduce yourself one night when you hear the truck outside.

There's nothing wrong or illegal about tipping folks who provide good service. It's chump change compared to the taxes you pay which go up the chimney anyways.

I've had the same garbage guys for years, and have no regrets tipping them.

Another poster pointed out that the garbage men aren't the same folks who give tickets, but I believe they often work in cahoots. I've rarely received garbage violations since I started tipping. My guess is that garbage men often notify sanitation police who then write tickets.

A slap on the back doesn't go nearly as far as a couple crisp fifty dollar bills.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 10, 2005 7:54 PM


Large garbage cans help if you have problems with people tearing open your garbage since there's more room to sift through it without everything being tossed on the ground.

Posted by: the man at August 10, 2005 9:43 PM

We got a recycling ticket when we were on vacation! Of course, the bag in question was not ours - it was our neighbor's, who explained to the guy writing the ticket that the bag was hers and not ours and that it was on her sidewalk. The guy proceeded to write the ticket and put the little pink slip on our door. All the while, our neighbor was explaining that he had written down the wrong address and had the wrong house. Of course he didn't give a rat's ass! At least my neighbor paid me for the ticket, but this is just ridiculous.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 12, 2005 11:21 AM

There are sanitation police and there are sanitation enforcement agents. The difference is like NYC Police to traffic agents. Agents give recycling summonses and dirty sidewalk summonses. Sanitation Police look for illegal dumpers and give them $20,000. summonses.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 24, 2005 11:35 PM

Surely these sanitation police lack common sense. I live in a house in Coney Island and if you live there you'd know it's not void of litter. It has been raining all week and I'm sure it's windy as well. As soon as it stops raining, I get slapped with a ticket for having debris at my front area to which was not there the night before when it was cleaned (only at night since I work all day). I can't be out there 24/7 with a garbage bag and a broom (especially if it's raining) and it seems that even though it's nature's fault, sanitation thinks I should pay for it. I rather throw my 100 dollars into the ocean.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 16, 2005 12:02 AM

WE have the same problem over here in Gravesend . We are getting hit with summons every other week. Either it is for recycling ,with has nothing to do with us if bums go through our garbage and move the garbage from one pail to the next. Now we are getting hit with 100 fines for dirty sidewalks. This is a joke, we cannot help it if garbage is being thrown around from other people. We cannot be outside our homes 24/7 cleaning all day. I say we must join together and fight this crime. We are being taken for a $$$$$ ride.

Posted by: Anonymous at October 30, 2005 10:05 AM

Brownstoner...please remove the two posts above...they have ruined a perfectly good thread.

The ticket blitz has hit Clinton Hill and I have appreciated all the comments above.

Still don't know how to tip these guys without stalking for hours in the middle of the night but will somehow try. I think in general it is good practice and pays off...whether or not it reduces fines.

However, the arbitrary way that the sanitation enforcers can issue summonses without a way for us to fight (short of showing up in court) leaves me with a powerless feeling that I do not like.

IF this is the most corrupt of the agencies, I want to do something. Somehow.

The system itself is flawed. DOS issues the summons but then the Environmental Protection people collect the money and follow up from there. If you call the DOS to ask a question about a summons, they can't help you and refer you to the DEP, for which they will not provide a phone number until you happen to speak to someone with a heart...or the moon and the stars line up in your favor. Even then, calling the DEP is not helpful because they tell you they have nothing to do with issuing the summons. Circular reference that goes no where. Who designed this? It needs to be fixed!

Posted by: Anonymous at July 6, 2006 3:41 PM

There have lots of news reports about how Sanitation workers have been getting stung for taking money. I am afraid to tip them because I don't want to get them in trouble or for me to get in trouble. It is illegal for Government workers to take money and everyone has done it anyway. It makes sense to give your mailperson and your sanitation worker a gift of appreciation. But lately in the Sanitation department, there has been a crackdown. From my own observation, I find that this crack-down has embittered these guys(even made them paranoid), so they are more disgruntled and less likely to go the extra mile (or even in some cases, just do the bare minimum).

Posted by: Sheila Cecil at September 5, 2006 10:58 AM

London-born rapper Sway is to be honoured at the BET Hip-Hop awards in the US...

Posted by: Ahmad Moses at November 16, 2006 6:48 PM

Is there anyway to fight a sanitation ticket?

For those who think that they have been unjustly served. Maybe we can post the names of the sanitation pickup guy or enforcer/cops that has written the ticket on the boards here...keep a list of them and their rating somehow...keep them on their toes.

Posted by: William at July 14, 2007 1:27 AM

There are a few important things that you you must understand. Sanitation workers only pick up the garbage. There are many reasons why they don't take certain things
1. Paper must be tied up or in a pail.
2. Styrofoam is not paper!!
3.There is a size limit on the pail you can have. They will not take a 50lb 4ft pail.
4. Bottles and cans and paper are not the same commodity, that is why it is called recycling and why you recieve $25 summons.
5. When you live in crap areas with sloppy renters in everybuilding you get tickets for mixed recycling.
They can't accept tips, as they can lose their job for it, if you throw it in the truck when they arent looking they will accpet it.
There are people home all day with nothing else to do then to find a way to get their sanitation workers in trouble. 75% of the time if you report them they will lose their job, their pension, and will have to find a way to support their family all because you had nothing better to do then to call 311 because they left your mixed recycling( which is your job to do) so you claim they took money from you and they lose their job. Sanitation workers are working hard to do 12 tons of garbage a day, while you go to your airconditioned office and sit at your desk, they work in the heat, extreme cold to make this city as clean as possible. As with other city jobs its all politics, when the people on top come down hard on the sanitation workers ( remember they are a union) they will do what they can to keep things the same.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 6:19 PM

There are a few important things that you you must understand. Sanitation workers only pick up the garbage. There are many reasons why they don't take certain things
1. Paper must be tied up or in a pail.
2. Styrofoam is not paper!!
3.There is a size limit on the pail you can have. They will not take a 50lb 4ft pail.
4. Bottles and cans and paper are not the same commodity, that is why it is called recycling and why you recieve $25 summons.
5. When you live in crap areas with sloppy renters in everybuilding you get tickets for mixed recycling.
They can't accept tips, as they can lose their job for it, if you throw it in the truck when they arent looking they will accpet it.
There are people home all day with nothing else to do then to find a way to get their sanitation workers in trouble. 75% of the time if you report them they will lose their job, their pension, and will have to find a way to support their family all because you had nothing better to do then to call 311 because they left your mixed recycling( which is your job to do) so you claim they took money from you and they lose their job. Sanitation workers are working hard to do 12 tons of garbage a day, while you go to your airconditioned office and sit at your desk, they work in the heat, extreme cold to make this city as clean as possible. As with other city jobs its all politics, when the people on top come down hard on the sanitation workers ( remember they are a union) they will do what they can to keep things the same.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 6:20 PM

There are a few important things that you you must understand. Sanitation workers only pick up the garbage. There are many reasons why they don't take certain things
1. Paper must be tied up or in a pail.
2. Styrofoam is not paper!!
3.There is a size limit on the pail you can have. They will not take a 50lb 4ft pail.
4. Bottles and cans and paper are not the same commodity, that is why it is called recycling and why you recieve $25 summons.
5. When you live in crap areas with sloppy renters in everybuilding you get tickets for mixed recycling.
They can't accept tips, as they can lose their job for it, if you throw it in the truck when they arent looking they will accpet it.
There are people home all day with nothing else to do then to find a way to get their sanitation workers in trouble. 75% of the time if you report them they will lose their job, their pension, and will have to find a way to support their family all because you had nothing better to do then to call 311 because they left your mixed recycling( which is your job to do) so you claim they took money from you and they lose their job. Sanitation workers are working hard to do 12 tons of garbage a day, while you go to your airconditioned office and sit at your desk, they work in the heat, extreme cold to make this city as clean as possible. As with other city jobs its all politics, when the people on top come down hard on the sanitation workers ( remember they are a union) they will do what they can to keep things the same.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 6:20 PM

There are a few important things that you you must understand. Sanitation workers only pick up the garbage. There are many reasons why they don't take certain things
1. Paper must be tied up or in a pail.
2. Styrofoam is not paper!!
3.There is a size limit on the pail you can have. They will not take a 50lb 4ft pail.
4. Bottles and cans and paper are not the same commodity, that is why it is called recycling and why you recieve $25 summons.
5. When you live in crap areas with sloppy renters in everybuilding you get tickets for mixed recycling.
They can't accept tips, as they can lose their job for it, if you throw it in the truck when they arent looking they will accpet it.
There are people home all day with nothing else to do then to find a way to get their sanitation workers in trouble. 75% of the time if you report them they will lose their job, their pension, and will have to find a way to support their family all because you had nothing better to do then to call 311 because they left your mixed recycling( which is your job to do) so you claim they took money from you and they lose their job. Sanitation workers are working hard to do 12 tons of garbage a day, while you go to your airconditioned office and sit at your desk, they work in the heat, extreme cold to make this city as clean as possible. As with other city jobs its all politics, when the people on top come down hard on the sanitation workers ( remember they are a union) they will do what they can to keep things the same.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 6:20 PM

I find it hilarious that most of the comments regarding summons' being issued unfairly are from Brooklyn. Sounds like the entire borough is full of garbage. I propose a Brooklyn tax since it appears it is the largest, dirtiest borough in NYC.

Posted by: Joseph at August 7, 2007 9:42 PM

I got a $100 ticket from an agent name Frank Liotta. I was cited for a few pieces paper and cigarette wrappers, which could have been carried to my sidewalk at any given moment.

I live in Sunset Park Brooklyn near the 8th Avenue area. The 8th Avenue area, has been, and continues to be one of the dirtier parts of this city. 8th Avenue is filled with all sorts of garbage generated by its pedestrian, restaurants, and grocery stores. It is not uncommon to seagulls swooping in to pick at the entrails and rotten meat dumped by the restaurants.

It sickens me to see a civil servant like Liotta picking on little guys like me and not tackling real problems.

Posted by: guest at September 6, 2007 9:29 PM

My brother is a Sanitation Police officer.
and I hear what happends on his shifts.
first thing the law is the law my Brother
and other officers just inforce them.
If my brother came back with out a ticket
then his captian will think his goofing off
dont get mad at the officers get mad at the mayor. Thats like if a MTA worker decided not pick up passengers got back to the garage
with no money he better have a good reson.
Read your laws on trash in and around your
property. And tipping you have to be stupid
to do that. Any city worker are not alowed to
be tipped a.k.a. Sanitation dep. MTA. Police
department. Now try to give a Sanitation
Police officer a tip or a brib some times they are in plain cloth you will get
more then a ticket you get jail time.
Bottom line Pick up your trash
and when your away have someone check
your property like a next door nabor.
The next time you see someone drop off a old
stove on your lawn or property and a sanit Police officer is arresting and slapping him
with a 20,000 + fine thank the officer
NYC Strongest.

Posted by: guest at October 5, 2007 3:34 AM

just clean ur sidewalk from 8:00am-9:00am that is the only time these guys can write tickets for dirty sidewalks. i asked them once and they arent allowed to write for that any other time.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 9:44 PM

just clean ur sidewalk from 8:00am-9:00am that is the only time these guys can write tickets for dirty sidewalks. i asked them once and they arent allowed to write for that any other time.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 9:45 PM

How exactly do they fine you if you just stick all your crap in a black bag? Is there someone who goes around and opens the trash bags to check and see if it's mixed? Or do they only check the clear bags for mixed stuff(IE, is that why they're clear)?

Cus whoever has to go through the trash has a really crappy job.

Posted by: guest at November 28, 2007 7:00 PM

let me tell you some thing about the santation police i was a san cop for six years until i was let go for bs.the dept socks from the boss the the po's it's all about tickets and numbers the san police are just like nypd to a point they can arrest and in force the law but the dept just wants tickets they dont like you to do your job the way it was posted in the law look it up and you will see it's not only about garabge.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 10:12 PM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions