NYC Fights Back Against Pizza Rat: New Pizza-Shaped Trash Bins Installed in Parks

Say Goodbye to Pizza Rat: NYC Parks Introduces Special Pizza Bins

New York City's famous for its pizza, but less so for its rats. To combat this, NYC Parks has introduced new trash bins specifically designed to hold pizza boxes.

These new bins, with a classic red-and-white checkered tablecloth design, are already in place at one park in each borough. This initiative aims to prevent overflowing trash cans and reduce the food sources for pesky rats.

What are these pizza-friendly bins all about?

• Cardboard pizza boxes, often too big for traditional bins, can block trash cans, leading to overflow and attracting rats.
• The new bins offer a dedicated space for pizza boxes, helping to keep parks cleaner and rat-free.
• The bins are placed at strategic locations throughout the city, including:
  • Loreto Playground (Bronx)
  • Saratoga Park (Brooklyn)
  • Father Demo Square (Manhattan)
  • Sobelsohn Playground (Queens)
  • Jennifer's Playground (Staten Island)

NYC Parks is following the lead of the Central Park Conservancy, who introduced similar bins in Central Park earlier this year.

“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.”

So, next time you enjoy a slice in the park, remember to dispose of your pizza box in the right place. It's a small step that can make a big difference in keeping our city clean and rat-free.