Rats are opportunistic feeders and nest builders drawn to consistent food sources and sheltered areas. The New York City Department of Health identified that exposed trash bags in multi unit buildings and along busy blocks provide reliable access to both food and nesting material. This makes waste storage a primary driver of urban rodent activity, as outlined in its guidance on preventing rats in New York City. To combat the rat activity, New York City put in place inspections and enforcement efforts focused on eliminating the conditions that allow rats to forage, hide, and establish nests.
New York City’s expanding waste containerization policies showed how sealed storage can disrupt these behaviors at scale. According to the 2025 Mayor’s Management Report, the percentage of initial inspections showing active rat signs in Fiscal Year 2025 dropped to a five year low of 19.7 percent. During the same period, the New York City Department of Sanitation reported in, “New York’s Strongest: Delivered a Cleaner, More Sustainable City,” that 311 rat sighting complaints declined for twelve consecutive months, with overall sightings falling more than 20 percent as sealed waste storage expanded across residential and commercial properties.
Pilot program results further illustrate the impact of full containerization. Analysis shared by the New York League of Conservation Voters found that neighborhoods participating in containerization pilots in Manhattan Community District 9 saw reported rat sightings decline by more than 60 percent, demonstrating how reducing access to exposed trash directly affects rodent presence, as detailed in NYLCV’s overview of the NYC trash containerization pilot programs.
Trash enclosure design plays a critical role in the effectiveness of modern waste containerization efforts. CITIBIN’s sealed trash enclosures are designed to limit access to food and shelter between pickups, helping interrupt rodent feeding and nesting patterns. CITIBIN supports waste containment with solutions for both residential settings and municipal sidewalks and public spaces. CITIBIN is proud to be a part of efforts that help keep waste contained and reduce conditions that attract rodents in communities across the country.
Check out our video: Experiment: #PizzaRat versus CITIBIN
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