Where New York's 14 Million Tons of Trash Go - NYC Revealed

Many things come to mind when thinking about New York City, but how the city deals with its garbage is usually not one of them. New Yorkers produce over 14 million tons of trash each year — and a combination of city agencies and private companies work daily to haul away what New Yorkers don't want.

Join Cheddar & CuriosityStream as we explore the unique histories and modern challenges, defining the future of each of New York City's one-of-a-kind infrastructure systems, in NYC Revealed.

Watch 13 minute versions here on Cheddar's YouTube page. You can also watch the full 24 minute episodes on CuriosityStream and on Cheddar's live network Wednesdays, at 9 p.m.


Connect with Cheddar!

[peabody]

This feels like one of those 16 mm films I watched in school when I was a kid, as made in the 70s. This was a very interesting subject, incredibly timely too. And, kinda nostalgia-inspiring.

[MK--]

75% goes to landfill, sanitation workers have to collect bags by hand; is NYC stuck in the 80s? Meanwhile, just 1% goes to landfill in Amsterdam, and garbage is collected through sensor-based, underground containers.

[DatGuyYonder]

The funniest part of this is that New York City sends all their trash to New Jersey hahaha

[fhkskalf]

Seems like a pretty crappy system. Good garbage trucks, like the ones they use in most of Europe, don't vomit garbage juice on the street. Landfills are banned in most of Europe too, and in many cities all the heat from the incinerated waste is sent directly to homes/businesses for heating.

[mats]

I respect these workers a lot but the system seems incredibly outdated
Seems like they didn’t make any progress on the last 40 years
O mean.. landfills?
Really?
Are we still in the 1800s?

[SeaBassTian]

One of the failings of the layout of Manhattan is the lack of alleyways which would ensure more seamless collection of garbage.

[glowbright]

we rreally need a part two for this video that goes into greater details

[ningzhang]

I live in America. I am from China. I've been to Europe. In terms of infrastructure and city design, America is behind in so many ways and by so many years. It's not that the American people are incapable of doing things. It's the American system, at all levels, that dictates how wealth is distributed and how laws and regulations are enacted and enforced.

[CT-vmgf]

They’re still 40 years behind the times. Garbage men getting poked with needles and knives? Why not use automated trucks and wheelie bins.

[kimbeaux]

How can this city justify not having a mandatory recycling program?!

[Kezenmacher]

Why bury 3/4s the trash in landfills that might pose a health risk for generations to come, when one can incinerate it for heat/electricity?

[xxjaroslawxx]

Why is all of this shit picked up by hand instead of using standardized bins that would be emptied by a machine like in many smaller systems or other countries?

[stephendoherty]

Love to see how the zero waste initiative is working

[ROBLOXTHANOS]

We are making steady progress. Is it enough? Don’t throw that question in the garbage just yet.

[SiberiaMCNuggets]

That's alot of my music and anime tastes

[LOVER_LINK]

When I found out nyc still uses an archaic system for their subway, I knew any other infrastructure they have is going to be shitty

[pattongilbert]

Love the narrator and music! Makes it feel like an "official" TV show.

[Fpvpilot]

Crazy that the sanitation workers still have to grab all the garbage by hand! Get some bins, and trucks that can pick them up themselves.

[derorje]

man, what a joy it would be i if one would separate glas, paper and green food waste (eggshells, bread, fruit and vegetable peel). The landfills would be a lot smaller.

[RIPxBlackHawk]

Feels like those jobs are going to go soon enough. I wouldn't have expected a city as large and lively as New York City to have as inefficient processes as these.