Before your zone activates
Any BIC-licensed trade waste carter. BIC (the Business Integrity Commission) maintains a public directory of licensed haulers. You can shop around, negotiate pricing, and switch vendors as often as you want.
After your zone activates
Only one of the three authorized carters DSNY designated for your specific zone. The choice is binding: even if a long-standing BIC-licensed carter you trust is not on your zone's authorized list, you cannot use them for commercial pickup.
Enforcement is strict. Using an unauthorized carter means:
- $4,000 to $10,000 per violation (per pickup event)
- $2,000 to $5,000 for not having a written contract with an authorized carter
- $10,000+ fines against the carter themselves
- Repeat violations within 12 months: doubled fines plus potential suspension
How to identify your zone's authorized carters
- Go to nyc.gov/commercialwastezones.
- Enter your business address.
- The tool returns your zone status and lists the three authorized carters.
- Get quotes from all three before signing. Pricing varies significantly.
Automatic assignment (bad outcome)
If you do not sign a written agreement with an authorized carter during your zone's enrollment window, DSNY assigns you one at the maximum allowable rate. This is the single worst financial outcome in the program. For a restaurant generating 4 to 6 yards of waste per week, auto-assignment can cost an extra $200 to $600 per month over a negotiated contract.