The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) truly is a department that never sleeps; it’s evident through the extreme circumstances it has had to manage during the coronavirus pandemic.
Refuse and recycling collection continues, though it may differ from before and despite a number of DSNY employees falling ill. DSNY’s efforts are more extraordinary considering it sanitizes 6,500 trucks between each shift; not to mention the temporary closing of some garages for sanitation.
“New York City is ground zero for COVID-19, and DSNY is the world’s largest sanitation department, collecting more than 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables each day,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president, North American sales and marketing. “The sheer magnitude of the refuse and recycling volume is impressive on any day, but even more so now. Mack commends DSNY for their dedication realizing the difficulties they had to manage through to keep day-to-day operations moving smoothly.”
Mack® trucks make up the majority of the DSNY’s heavy-duty fleet, including everything from refuse and recycling to snow removal.
While a number of DSNY employees tested positive for the virus, thankfully, most have already recovered and returned to work. Unfortunately, DSNY is mourning the loss of 14 employees who died from COVID-19 or presumed COVID-19 complications.
“This is unlike anything we’ve ever dealt with before,” says DSNY Deputy Commissioner Rocco DiRico. “We’ve had blizzards, hurricanes like Sandy, and 9/11, but this is an invisible threat. I personally want to thank our employees for their dedication during this time of crisis. The DSNY team really impressed me with the way they stepped up to the plate. I also want to extend my deepest condolences to the families of our teammates who have passed away from the virus.”
WORKING THROUGH INTERRUPTIONS
DSNY operates 59 garages, all of which have closed for a deep cleaning at some point during the pandemic as a result of someone at the garage testing positive. DiRico said every garage in the city closed at some point, and some have closed more than once. This, too, presented challenges.
“Interruptions have happened, but we were able to work through it,” says Salvatore Ceraulo, DSNY bureau operations chief. “The pandemic resulted in minimal collection delays, especially when garages were closed for cleaning, but residents have been patient and cooperated, and we thank them for that.”
COVID-19 created a need for DSNY to implement multiple safety measures to ensure the safety of its employees, while also keeping New York City streets clean for citizens. DSNY is now operating three shifts a day, with most of the refuse and recycling collection occurring at night or in the early morning hours to promote social distancing.
Employees already wear gloves and are encouraged to wear face coverings when social distancing is not an option. The department cleans each truck before and after each shift. Additionally, staff cleans garages three times a day, seven days a week.
“Our employees understand the importance of keeping the city clean and safe, even when the risks are unknown,” DiRico says. “I couldn’t be more proud of how they’ve stepped up.”
Find out more about DSNY’s efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, please click here.
