NYC Sanitation MCQ Exam 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the NYC DSNY's primary responsibility during a declared sanitation emergency?
- Suspending all non-essential collection routes
- Prioritizing public health by maintaining refuse removal to prevent disease (Correct answer)
- Transferring operations to the NYPD
- Closing all transfer stations until the emergency ends
Correct answer: Prioritizing public health by maintaining refuse removal to prevent disease
During emergencies, DSNY prioritizes maintaining refuse collection to protect public health and prevent unsanitary conditions that breed disease.
Question 2: Which type of truck is most commonly used for curbside recycling collection in NYC?
- Front-loading compactor
- Rear-loading split-body collection truck (Correct answer)
- Roll-off container truck
- Side-loading automated truck
Correct answer: Rear-loading split-body collection truck
Rear-loading split-body trucks allow separate compartments for different recyclable streams (paper vs. metal/glass/plastic) collected simultaneously.
Question 3: An NYC sanitation worker observes a fellow worker accepting cash from a resident in exchange for taking extra bags. This is:
- Permissible as a tip for good service
- A violation of DSNY ethics rules and must be reported (Correct answer)
- Allowed if the extra bags contain recyclables only
- Acceptable if the amount is under $20
Correct answer: A violation of DSNY ethics rules and must be reported
NYC DSNY employees are prohibited from accepting gratuities or payments from residents as it constitutes corruption under city ethics rules.
Question 4: What does the NYC 'Organics Collection' program primarily collect?
- Yard trimmings from commercial properties only
- Food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from eligible properties (Correct answer)
- Compostable packaging from restaurants
- Organic chemicals from industrial sites
Correct answer: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from eligible properties
NYC's organics program collects food scraps, food-soiled paper products, and yard waste for composting rather than landfilling.
Question 5: A sanitation truck becomes stuck in a snowdrift during winter operations. The driver's first action should be to:
- Rev the engine repeatedly to power out
- Notify dispatch and follow procedures for vehicle recovery (Correct answer)
- Ask bystanders to help push the truck
- Abandon the truck and continue on foot
Correct answer: Notify dispatch and follow procedures for vehicle recovery
Dispatch must be notified when a vehicle becomes immobilized so proper recovery equipment and personnel can be deployed safely.
Question 6: Under NYC rules, what is the fine range a property owner faces for failing to clear snow from the sidewalk adjacent to their property within the required timeframe?
- $10–$25
- $100–$350 (Correct answer)
- $500–$1,000
- $1,000–$5,000
Correct answer: $100–$350
NYC property owners face fines of $100 to $350 for failing to clear sidewalks of snow and ice within the required timeframe after snowfall ends.
Question 7: The 'DSNY Stuff Exchange' program is designed to:
- Allow workers to trade shifts with each other
- Let residents give away usable items to prevent them from entering the waste stream (Correct answer)
- Exchange old equipment between sanitation districts
- Trade recyclable materials with neighboring cities
Correct answer: Let residents give away usable items to prevent them from entering the waste stream
The Stuff Exchange program enables NYC residents to offer reusable items for free, diverting them from landfills and extending product life cycles.
NYC Sanitation MCQ Exam 4
What is the NYC DSNY's primary responsibility during a declared sanitation emergency?