The Keep Brownsville Clean Campaign is an initiative of the Pitkin Avenue BID in partnership with the Brownsville Community Justice Center. The focus of the campaign is to improve the overall appearance of the Brownsville commercial corridors Belmont Avenue, Pitkin Avenue, Rockaway Avenue and Mother Gaston Blvd.,. Funding for the Fiscal Year 2024 initiative is provided by the NYC Small Business Services Small BID Grant.
community Clean-up events
In the Spring and Fall, we host seasonal community cleanup events. Working with volunteers, we sweep sidewalks and gutters, remove trash, clean, mulch, and plant our tree beds. In the spring, we plant annuals and perennials, and in the fall, we plant daffodil bulbs and prepare the tree beds for winter. In Fiscal Year 2024, we will not be planting during our seasonal clean-up.
HELP US MAKE BROWNSVILLE SHINE!
We are currently seeking volunteers for our Spring 2024 Clean-Up event. In Partnership with Brownsville Community Justice Center, NYC DOT, StreetLab, Incredible Credible Messengers Inc., NYC Department of Health Brownsville Health Action Center, and Equity Design, the Pitkin Avenue BID is hosting a Brownville Cleanup along the EastBKBikeClub Brownsville Bike Bus route approximately 1.25 miles.
Following the orange line, we will begin at Riverdale and Herzl at the RACS-Riverdale Avenue Community School. We will end the cleanup at Watkins and Glenmore, then walk down Watkins to the Belmont and Watkins Plaza for lunch and an activation by StreetLab. Supplies will be available.
RESIDENTial TRash & Recycling Collection
New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is responsible for residential garbage and recycling collection. DSNY’s garbage pickup schedule is currently three days a week. This means waste must be stored on the property between collections. Recycling is collected by DSNY once a week.
DSNY requires that garbage and recycling are set out on the scheduled collection day only. Empty receptacles must be removed after pickup. Garbage and recycling are not to be set out in a way that blocks pedestrian traffic or extends in front of another property.
For more information, go to DSNY’s website and type in your address to find out specific times for your garbage and recycling collection schedule.
COMMERCIAL TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTION
DSNY is not responsible for garbage and recycling collection at commercial properties and businesses. Commercial properties/retailers on Pitkin and Rockaway Avenues must hire a private carting company (called carters or haulers) for collection of garbage and recycling. Each carting service will provide guidance to the business owners on a pickup time schedule. Business owners must get a placard or sticker from the carting service showing their designated pickup times. Stickers with specific pickup times must be placed visibly in the business owners’ window to avoid potential fines.
What ITEMS can you recycle?
Recycling must be bagged separately based on the materials to be recycled. Not sure what goes where? Check out this easy to use poster from NYC Zero Waste:
All of these materials go together! All of these materials go together!
Click herefor a more comprehensive list of recyclable materials which have been implemented in 2018.Please be aware that plastic bags and other film plastic should not be included in either of these categories. Plastic bags are to be dropped off at your nearest film plastic collection container. You can find one here.
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is disposing of waste or unwanted materials in unauthorized or undesignated areas. Items dumped illegally may include:
Household trash + Construction & landscaping debris
Tires & automotive parts + Furniture & appliances + Used oil & chemicals
Most illegal dumping is done to avoid paying disposal fees at landfills, or as failure to take the time and effort to dispose of items properly.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP ILLEGAL DUMPING?
DSNY has two programs that provide cash rewards to people who witness and report illegal dumping activities:
Illegal Dumping Award Program: Complete an affidavit (PDF Complaint Form) after witnessing illegal dumping.
Illegal Dumping Tip Program: Anyone who tips off the City – so that DSNY can catch an illegal dumper in the act.
For details of how to file a complaint, and for more information about the award programs, go to the DSNY Illegal Dumping page.