STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City is sending rebate checks to certain homeowners who purchased official city trash bins as part of the city’s ongoing push for full trash containerization across the five boroughs.
The rebate was announced Thursday by Mayor Eric Adams, who has made wide-sweeping changes to sanitation policies in an effort to fight back against the scourge of rats on city streets.
“Building a cleaner New York City is going to require all of us to work together to keep trash off our streets. To encourage everyone to do their part and to help put more money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers, we’ll be covering the cost of the NYC Bin for most one- and two-family homeowners,” said Adams. “Our ‘Trash Revolution’ is now not only making our city cleaner, but also more affordable. I encourage everyone who has not yet to order an NYC Bin to do so today. There’s no reason to wait — cleaning up our city starts at home, so make sure to get your NYC Bin and get cash back.”
Here’s what you need to know.
Who qualifies
The rebates will be sent to one- and two-family homeowners who receive the Basic or Enhanced School Tax Relief (STAR or E-STAR) credit or exemption and purchased an official NYC trash bin.
Rebate amount
The checks are valued at $59.30.
Issued automatically
Homeowners in line for the refund checks will receive letters from the Department of Finance in the coming weeks notifying them.
Those who already purchased the bins online or via phone will receive the check automatically. Residents who have yet to do so will receive notice of the opportunity when they make the purchase, and those who have purchased or will purchase their NYC Bin at Home Depot will receive a voucher code they can use online.
When they’ll arrive
The administration said that the checks are expected to hit qualifying homeowners’ mailboxes in the coming weeks.
How many New Yorkers will receive checks
The city’s Office of Management and Budget estimated that 265,000 New Yorkers would benefit under the free bin program, which is projected to cost the city about $14.5 million.
Rebates a result of City Council legislation
City Council legislation passed in February requires the city to provide official cans free of charge to owners of one- or two-family homes who also receive benefits under the New York School Tax Relief Program (STAR).
Council members passed the law with a veto-proof majority, and it required the city to set up the program starting Aug. 1 for people to request free bins and for those who had already purchased bins to request reimbursement.
NYC sending trash bin rebate checks to homeowners; Here’s what you need to know
