Father Demo Square

Pizza boxes, difficult to fit in typical trash cans, can now be disposed in specially designed receptacles in five parks citywide

Today, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced the installation of new trash receptacles custom-designed for the disposal of pizza boxes. Through this initiative, visitors at parks throughout the city can dispose of their empty pizza boxes in dedicated containers, rather than forcing the rectangular boxes into circular bins.

By keeping pizza boxes separate from other trash, Parks hopes to reduce trash can overflow to keep our parks cleaner, as bulky pizza boxes sometimes cause blockages inside traditional trash cans. Ensuring that empty pizza boxes and food waste are disposed of separately will also reduce the food sources available to rats, furthering New York City’s ongoing rat-mitigation efforts.

"Pizza Rat will find no quarter in city parks soon enough, thanks to these pizza-ready trash cans," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "This is yet another creative way the Adams administration is improving quality of life for people, not pests."

“Whether you’re relaxing after caring for your local garden, taking in a Movie Under the Stars, or just connecting with your neighbors, few things are more quintessentially New York than enjoying a slice of pizza in one of our public parks,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We all know that you shouldn’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole, which is why we’re deploying special trash cans just for pizza boxes to parks throughout the five boroughs. Now, pizza lovers throughout the city can help us keep our shared public spaces clean by disposing of their boxes in these special receptacles, fighting the scourge of rats and ensuring our greenspaces are litter-free.”

“This summer, the Central Park Conservancy piloted the first pizza box recycling bin in Central Park, and the early results show less jammed trash bins and surrounding litter, plus more recycled cardboard,” said Margaret Asaro, Vice President for Park Maintenance and Facilities, Central Park Conservancy. “As we work to expand the pilot program to more locations in Central Park, we applaud our partners in NYC Parks who are deploying these pizza bins to parks throughout the city. We will continue to work together to share knowledge and findings to keep New York’s public parks clean.”

The new trash bins pay homage to the classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths of New York pizza joints. Designed in-house by Parks, the trash bins catch New Yorkers’ attention and remind them to make sure their pizza boxes are empty before disposal.

A total of six receptacles have been installed in five parks throughout the city, in time for Labor Day weekend:

Keeping New York City’s public parks clean and safe is one of the key priorities of Parks’ Vital Parks for All framework, a bold plan for investing in our shared living infrastructure and empowering New Yorkers to enjoy and care for our public spaces. Greenspaces that are well-maintained and free of litter inspire civic pride, deter crime, and encourage New Yorkers to connect with their neighbors and the great outdoors.