MTA will remove trash cans from more stations to reduce trash

[mark1447]

The MTA is planning to expand a program that tries to reduce underground trash by removing garbage cans from subway platforms, amNewYork has learned.

 

The agency took away bins in two stations -- the Flushing/Main Street No. 7 station and the 8th Street N/R station -- in October for what was supposed to be a two-month trial; it's still ongoing. And New York City Transit President Tom Prendergast said he wants to pull cans from more stations.

 

"Two doesn't give you enough for a sample," Prendergast said. "We're going to expand it."

 

Prendergast said he wasn't sure which, or how many stations would lose garbage pails, but said the pilot “wouldn't go to scores” of stations.

 

“It wouldn't work at a Grand Central or at a Penn Station,” Prendergast said, noting the heavy ridership at those stations, but said the program seems to be working at Main Street, the 10th busiest station last year.

 

MTA board member Andrew Albert said he hasn't been briefed on the new plan, but thinks it might work in lesser-traveled stations.

 

“If it's really scant usage in the trash cans and apparently no litter around, then that may be a good candidate at the pilot,” Albert said, though he is doubtful straphangers will hold onto their garbage instead of tossing it on the floor.

 

“That means taking newspapers and used coffee cups and taking them out of the station and searching for another trash can,” Albert said. “I don't see people doing that.”

 

An MTA spokesman wouldn't discuss details of the plan last week, saying they haven't been finalized.

 

The Port Authority removed all garbage cans at its PATH stations years ago, mostly because they are considered “a security concern related to hiding places for suspicious devices,” according to spokesman Ron Marsico, who said going can-free “helps keep our stations and trains cleaner and safer.”

 

One tweak being made for the MTA program's expansion -- expected as early as this summer -- is notifying riders. When the pilot started in October, the MTA quietly removed the bins without telling straphangers.

 

“We need to explain to people what we're doing and why we're doing it,” Prendergast said.

 

Derrick Echevarria of the Transport Workers Union scoffed at the idea.

 

“We're spending money to change people's ways?” he asked rhetorically. “Let's spend money to clean the stations.”

 

Bill Henderson, of the MTA's Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, said even if the pilot helps the agency cut down on trash, it isn't fair to riders.

 

“There's some level of customer convenience that has to go into the calculation,” Henderson said. “There's a certain obligation to provide people with things that they need. And I think that includes having a trash can or two around.”

 

Straphangers at 8th Street questioned the pilot's effectiveness.

 

“There is so much litter around so people aren't holding their garbage,” said Jacqueline Ali, 23, while clutching an empty soda cup before boarding a Brooklyn-bound train at 8th Street last week.

 

“It makes no sense,” added Marc Sylvain, a 26-year-old actor who works at a restaurant near the station.

 

“It's dirty everywhere,” he said as he looked at the platform, where there are still dirt imprints from where garbage cans were stationed until October.

 

Source: http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/mta-will-remove-trash-cans-from-more-stations-to-reduce-trash-1.3729264

[peacemak3r]

Removing trash cans from stations will reduce trash on stations? Either way, even with the trash cans I still see trash on the stations.

[Guest Lance]

Yeah, I'm still not seeing the logic in this. I get the idea; the logic, no. You keep taking away trash bins and stations and trains will simply become dirtier as people (read: slobs) will just throw their garbage anywhere they feel like. Now, I'm not aware of how well the first test did over at Main St and 8 St, but I can't imagine the removal was that effective in keeping the stations clean.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Great... Let's give folks more of a reason to be slobs... So they think they're going to have less litter?? Well maybe they will but folks will just throw their litter on to the tracks even more or on the trains...

[rr4567]

Now I'll know why there will be an increased incidence of track fires and dirty trains, but then again this is typical MTA logic.

[RTS CNG Command]

I, too, don't see the logic in this because there's NO logic in it. Instead of finding a place to throw out the trash, there's no can TO throw it out. All this'll do is give slobs and litterers an even greater excuse to litter and make the subway even dirtier.

 

Ridiculous pilot, MTA. Ridiculous.

[pjbr40]

I think the message was if you are a slob and litters peoples why should we clean up after you? It shouldn't be the to pick up after you. They are not your housemaid. They got other thing to take care of.

 

This is IMO

[Grand Concourse]

Unless they have cops acting as enforcers to get ppl to clean up after themselves, there's no way this will work. I see this plan backfiring and making the stations even worse. Even some places with the trash bins there are garbage because the bin is overflowing with trash. What they need are more of those see thru trash bins if they are partially concerned about hidden bombs or something.

[Gorgor]

Saying that removing trash cans will decrease little is like saying laying off police officers will decrease crime rate.

[SoSpectacular]

Never noticed they removed the trash cans at Main Street to begin with LOL

[CDTA]

"The Port Authority removed all garbage cans at its PATH stations years ago, mostly because they are considered “a security concern related to hiding places for suspicious devices,”"

God damn PATH. Seriously I know your'e concerned and all about a terrorist attack but really? Removing trash cans and having the military guard Newark? (Who will use force if you even take a camera out.) God damn, slow down.

[NewFlyer 230]

Wow MTA u failed in logics once again. Even a third grader can come up with a better solution than that.

[NY1635]

Is this some sort of cruel sick joke?

[Eric B]

I get annoyed as it is when I'm on an end of a platform where there's no can. I end up holding whatever it is I'm trying to throw out, but others will more likely just throw it down. So now, to have no cans at all will give them more excuse. Who wants to put trash in their pockets?

[Roadcruiser1]

It works on the PATH because it is such a small system that carries a minimal amount of people compared to the New York City Subway. We are talking about one of the most massive transit systems in the world getting rid of garbage cans. Not a little wimpy transit system. It might work, but then again New Yorkers are dirtier than their Asian counterparts in Tokyo.

[TeeCoZee]

I've been lurking on this forum for over a year now, but this is the first time I've had the guts to step up and actually say something. I'm a writer and a budding railfan, so when I read this topic yesterday, I was immediately inspired to write an opinion piece in response. It was written in a simplified fashion for a general audience, but I figure you would all appreciate it as well:

 

http://www.baseballfordinner.com/2012/05/keep-your-hands-off-my-cans/

 

Keep in mind that some portions are meant to be sarcastic. Also, go easy on me, as I use improper terminology like "garbage train", just so everyone could understand what I'm talking about.

 

Now that I've finally said something, I don't think I'm going to be much of a stranger from now on.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I've been lurking on this forum for over a year now, but this is the first time I've had the guts to step up and actually say something. I'm a writer and a budding railfan, so when I read this topic yesterday, I was immediately inspired to write an opinion piece in response. It was written in a simplified fashion for a general audience, but I figure you would all appreciate it as well:

 

http://www.baseballf...ds-off-my-cans/

 

Keep in mind that some portions are meant to be sarcastic. Also, go easy on me, as I use improper terminology like "garbage train", just so everyone could understand what I'm talking about.

 

Now that I've finally said something, I don't think I'm going to be much of a stranger from now on.

 

 

lol... Well we're glad you mustered up the balls to say something... Now maybe we can get a few other lurkers to come out of the dark.

[Threxx]

So, so, so, stupid. How will this possibly work?

[QM1to6Ave]

I use 8th street pretty regularly, and I have to say that I am surprised that it is not as much of a mess as I expected. The track is definitely dirtier than it was before they took away the cans, but the platform is not as bad as I expected. I still get annoyed that I have had to hold garbage until I got out of the station, but I was way more pissed when they got rid of the S/A and booth in the downtown side of the station

[N-Trizzy2609]

This whole thing is backwards, you expect people to hold their trash cuz there's no cans in the station? Watch how fast that's going to backfire.

[MottAvenueMan]

It all goes to the tracks anyway.

[theaveragejoe]

all this is gonna mean is more smoke at track level and 3rd rail fires. What they should have done was gone the route that the TTC has done and get rid of Cans and use metal frames with the clear garbarge bags hanging so you can clearly see whats in the bags at all times.

[Brighton Express]

Oh boy those track fires cause so much trouble.

 

I was on a that had a sick passenger at Parkside, so it ran Express to Kings Highway. I needed Cortelyou Road. Next thing, a pulls up on the Express at Church Av talkin about a track fire on Avenue J. About 4 more trains come, and then finally a comes that is running Local, and R40. Imagine if something like this happened on a 2T line, it would be absolute hell.

[7LineFan]

I've been at the Main Street Station a few times within the past two days and I've not seen any trash. Thing is, with Main Street, the station was pretty much clean to begin with.

[pelhamlocal]

WTF, how the hell do they think it'll work. just so stupid