New Trash System Debuts At Prospect Park Woodlands

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — A new trash system that could change the way garbage is handled in New York City parks' woodlands has debuted in Prospect Park.

The "Carry In, Carry Out" trash management plan has been introduced as a pilot program in Lookout Hill, the 25-acre natural area in the mid-section of Brooklyn's backyard, the Prospect Park Alliance and Parks Department announced this week.

The new system removes trash receptacles from fragile nature areas and asks park patrons to instead carry any trash outside of the designated area. Patrons can put their garbage in trash receptacles that have been set up at the main entrances to the woodlands once they leave Lookout Hill, park officials said.

"Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn's last remaining forest, and these fragile woodland habitats can be easily trampled and disrupted, which is why we are piloting a 'Carry In, Carry Out' trash management strategy in this area," Alliance President Sue Donoghue said. "This strategy will not reduce the number of staff focused on trash management, nor the number of trash pick ups or receptacles, but move this activity to the entrances of our woodlands to keep trash receptacles and large vehicles off woodland paths."

The pilot program will be evaluated over the next year in Prospect Park with the possibility that it can be expanded to all of the park woodlands, officials said.

It comes as New York City's parks face the financial strain of changed fundraising methods during the coronavirus crisis and city budget cuts.

At Prospect Park and across the five boroughs, officials have asked volunteers to help keep the park grounds clean given the budget and staffing gaps and an increased use of the park during the pandemic.

A study of parks groups, which the Prospect Park Alliance participated in, found that an overall proposed $61.3-million reduction to the NYC Parks Department's budget could take maintenance of the city's parks back to the days of New York City's fiscal crisis.