Subways, Entrances, and Litter in NYC Transit Hubs
By Virgil Dumas
New York City's subway transports millions of riders daily, and it doesn't just transport commuters; it ferries trash. Subway entrances, corridors, and the stations themselves are all usual dumping grounds for unwanted wrappers, cups, and receipts. The amount of foot traffic, coupled with the lack of opportunity for disposal beyond the trains themselves, sustains the practice.
A 2023 report by the MTA estimated that every subway station gets, on average, 2.5 pounds of trash per 1,000 riders per day, and entrances close to busy streets or commercial zones are responsible for the largest concentrations. The practice of transit, like eating or drinking during the commute, raises the likelihood that small items are abandoned instead of being carried to receptacles, especially when there are few or poorly placed receptacles in stations.
Differences in infrastructure worsen the issue. The MTA's "Clean Subway Initiative" found that Manhattan stations experience daily cleaning, but outer-borough stops are visited as infrequently as every 48 hours. Overflowing receptacles and uncollected litter at entrances are a sign of lax supervision and invite additional disposal outside of proper channels.
This has backing from behavioral science. The Sanitation Foundation survey in 2024 reported that 40 % of those surveyed pointed out that littering occurs when disposal is not convenient, and 35 % pointed out that visual reminders, such as the presence of already existing litter, increase their own likelihood of dropping something. Translating this to subway stations, visible garbage serves as a permissive cue.
Fixes to reduce the problem involve better bin design and placement. NYC put in 30 new rat- and tamper-resistant receptacles at subway entrances in Brooklyn and Queens in 2023, reducing six-month overflow complaints by 18 %. There are also programs like "Keep It Moving, Keep It Clean" that link commuter pride to behavior, to promote pro-social disposal behavior.
Subway trash is not contained. In the rain, trash can flow through storm drains at entrances, contributing to the city's overall urban water pollution issue. A study by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection discovered that small plastic and paper trash on sidewalks near transit stations comprised 12 % of the material in stormwater monitoring collections.
Reducing subway station litter takes concerted effort: frequent servicing, adequately sized receptacles, and public awareness campaigns appealing to civic pride. If receptacles are convenient, not full, and noticeable, and if passengers get the message that the system needs responsibility, then the opportunity for littering is reduced. Transit litter is both an infrastructure issue and a human behavioral issue in cities, and its reduction can have a huge impact on the commuter experience.