NYC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NYC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Bulk items such as furniture may be placed at the curb for NYC collection on which day? → The night before scheduled bulk collection day
2. A NYC sanitation worker sustains a minor cut during collection. According to DSNY safety protocol, the worker should: → Report the injury immediately and seek first aid
3. What personal protective equipment must DSNY workers wear during nighttime collection operations? → High-visibility (reflective) safety vests
4. Under NYC rules, within how many hours after a snowstorm ends must property owners clear sidewalks? → 6 hours
5. Under NYC regulations, what must a sanitation worker do if a resident's recyclables are contaminated with food waste? → Leave them and affix a rejection notice
6. What is the correct procedure when a sanitation worker encounters a hypodermic needle in a waste container? → Use tongs or a mechanical device and report it as sharps waste
7. Which NYC agency is responsible for enforcing sanitation code violations against property owners? → DSNY
8. What does the acronym SDS stand for in the context of hazardous materials? → Safety Data Sheet
9. Which of the following items is classified as household hazardous waste (HHW) in NYC? → Motor oil
10. A sanitation worker receives a noise complaint from a resident during an early morning collection. The worker should: → Acknowledge the complaint politely and continue following the authorized schedule
11. What is the role of a 'tickler' system in DSNY fleet management? → A reminder system tracking when vehicles are due for preventive maintenance
12. What is the maximum penalty for illegal dumping of commercial waste in NYC? → $10,000 or more
13. An NYC sanitation worker observes a fellow worker accepting cash from a resident in exchange for taking extra bags. This is: → A violation of DSNY ethics rules and must be reported
14. According to DSNY safety rules, how should a worker position themselves when a collection truck is backing up? → Stand at a safe distance to the side, clear of the truck's path
15. How are DSNY snow routes different from regular garbage collection routes? → Snow routes prioritize major arterials and are pre-mapped independently of garbage routes
16. Which body part is most commonly injured among sanitation workers during collection operations? → Lower back
17. What is the NYC DSNY policy regarding collection of refuse bags placed out before the legal set-out time? → Do not collect early set-out bags — note the violation for potential enforcement action
18. How should DSNY workers position themselves relative to traffic when loading garbage from the curb? → Position the truck as a barrier between themselves and oncoming traffic
19. Under NYC law, which of the following materials is classified as e-waste and must NOT be placed in regular refuse? → Old televisions and computers
20. What type of commercial driver's license (CDL) is required to operate a standard DSNY collection truck in New York? → Class B CDL
21. What is the probationary period for newly appointed NYC Sanitation Workers? → 1 year
22. In NYC, which type of waste is collected by DSNY in brown bins or separate organic pickup programs? → Food scraps and yard waste (organics)
23. What does NYC's 'organics diversion rate' measure? → The proportion of organic waste diverted from landfills via composting or biogas
24. Under NYC rules, which of the following must be recycled as metal? → Empty aerosol cans
25. What does a blue quadrant rating of '4' on an NFPA 704 diamond indicate? → Deadly health hazard
26. NYC residents who generate large amounts of hazardous waste through home-based businesses are classified as what type of hazardous waste generator? → Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)
27. Which NYC DSNY regulation governs how collection workers should handle asbestos-containing materials found in waste? → Leave it and notify the supervisor — asbestos requires special handling and disposal
28. Which NYC law requires restaurants and food establishments to participate in grease trap maintenance and report records to the city? → NYC Health Code §81.09 and DEP regulations
29. Under NYC rules, how must residents prepare metal recyclables such as cans for curbside collection? → Placed in clear plastic bags or rigid bins
30. When a NYC sanitation truck's packer mechanism malfunctions during a collection route, the operator should first: → Stop immediately and call for a supervisor or mechanic