NYC Route Management and Collection Operations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In NYC, which day-of-week restriction applies to placing bulk items (e.g., furniture) on the curb for collection?
- Any day of the week
- Only on designated bulk collection days assigned per district (Correct answer)
- Every Sunday only
- Mondays and Thursdays only city-wide
Correct answer: Only on designated bulk collection days assigned per district
Bulk items must be placed on curbs only on the scheduled bulk collection day for that specific district to keep streets clear.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the DSNY 'section route' system used in NYC collection operations?
- To determine which supervisors work which shifts
- To divide the city into manageable geographic areas for systematic waste collection (Correct answer)
- To schedule employee vacations
- To assign truck maintenance intervals
Correct answer: To divide the city into manageable geographic areas for systematic waste collection
Section routes divide NYC into defined collection areas ensuring every block is covered on schedule and accountability is maintained.
Question 3: Under NYC Sanitation rules, how many hours before collection is allowed for residential garbage to be placed at the curb?
- 12 hours before midnight on the collection night
- No earlier than 4 PM on the day before, or after 4 PM the evening before overnight collection (Correct answer)
- Any time the night before
- 24 hours before pickup
Correct answer: No earlier than 4 PM on the day before, or after 4 PM the evening before overnight collection
NYC rules specify garbage may not be set out more than a specific window before collection to reduce time refuse sits on the street.
Question 4: Which DSNY code section prohibits placing refuse containers further than a specified distance from the curb line?
- Containers must be placed directly on the curb, within 18 inches (Correct answer)
- Containers may be placed anywhere on the sidewalk
- Containers must be placed at the building entrance
- No placement restrictions exist
Correct answer: Containers must be placed directly on the curb, within 18 inches
Placing containers within 18 inches of the curb keeps sidewalks passable and allows efficient truck collection.
Question 5: What should a DSNY collection crew do when they encounter an address that has excessive amounts of refuse beyond normal limits?
- Collect everything regardless of the amount
- Collect only the permitted amount and leave a notice of violation for the excess (Correct answer)
- Skip the address entirely
- Call the police
Correct answer: Collect only the permitted amount and leave a notice of violation for the excess
Collecting only the permitted amount and issuing a violation notice enforces compliance while keeping collection routes on schedule.
Question 6: During a snowstorm, what is the DSNY protocol regarding residential refuse collection routes?
- Collection continues normally regardless of snow depth
- Routes may be suspended and crews reassigned to snow removal operations (Correct answer)
- Only recyclables are collected during snow events
- All overtime is prohibited during storms
Correct answer: Routes may be suspended and crews reassigned to snow removal operations
DSNY reassigns collection crews to snow plowing and salting during declared snow emergencies to prioritize street safety.
In NYC, which day-of-week restriction applies to placing bulk items (e.g., furniture) on the curb for collection?