NYC Trash Delays Persist After Winter Storm Fern

New York City residents are contending with growing piles of uncollected trash on sidewalks across multiple boroughs, a week after Winter Storm Fern dumped more than a foot of snow and ushered in a prolonged deep freeze. The delays stem from sanitation crews prioritizing snow and ice removal, leaving garbage collection about 24 hours behind schedule citywide.

The storm struck last Sunday, blanketing the city in heavy snow that has since hardened into ice due to subfreezing temperatures. This has complicated cleanup efforts, as milder weather typically aids in melting accumulations and easing the workload. Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the issue during a press conference at City Hall, noting that the cold has required full reliance on manual labor without natural thawing. "What that has meant is that the entirety of the city's response is up to the city workers themselves, and what they've been doing is an incredible job," Mamdani said. He expressed optimism that the pace of operations is accelerating across the five boroughs.

The Department of Sanitation has deployed 2,500 workers on 12-hour shifts, supplemented by 1,500 additional personnel from other city agencies focused on...