Massive Trash Pile Finally Cleared From Bed-Stuy Block

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A massive pile of garbage that sat on a busy Bed-Stuy block for at least a week has finally been cleared, sanitation officials confirmed Friday.

The giant trash pile had been sitting on the corner of Fulton Street and Franklin Avenue since at least last Friday, Sept. 25, according to photos taken by resident Shabazz Stuart.

Stuart again posted on Twitter about the pile-up this Friday morning.

"Residents have been complaining about this growing #trashcity pile for over a week. Not on an obscure corner either," he wrote.

The Bed-Stuy pile comes as New Yorkers deal with an increase in street-side trash across the five boroughs, a problem that has mounted so far that Gov. Andrew Cuomo suggested sending in the National Guard to help clean the city's streets earlier this week.

A Patch review of 311 data this month found that complaints about trash in city parks doubled this summer compared to last year.

The trash complaints coincide with a $106 million cut to the Department of Sanitation's budget, forcing the city to reduce the frequency of garbage collection, as well as an increase in New Yorkers working from home, producing more garbage in residential neighborhoods.

The Fulton Street and Franklin Avenue corner has been a problem spot over the past few months, according to 311 data.

The issue, though, does not seem to be a build-up or residential trash, but a misuse of street corner trash cans that is also against the law, according to the sanitation department.

"The Department of Sanitation takes our role in keeping the city clean and safe incredibly seriously, and so we are always dismayed to see images of a street treated so badly," spokesperson Joshua Goodman told Patch. "The conditions depicted here are both morally wrong and likely illegal – remember, corner baskets are for things like your coffee cup while walking, not household or business trash."

Goodman said that the best way to reach the department about similar issues is to contact 311, though residents should also help out in letting people know about the rules.

"Our team is working to resolve it as swiftly as possible, and 311 is always the best way to reach us, but if you see someone engaging in illegal dumping, feel free to tell them where to put it," Goodman said.