Private Trash Truck Hits NYC Cyclist

A 43-year-old man was hit by a private garbage truck operated by Five Star Carting in Midtown Manhattan and is in serious but stable condition at an area hospital, according to New York City officials.

According to police, the collision occurred on the same day the police department launched an initiative to crackdown on private trash trucks. Many private hauling companies were found to have multiple violations during recent inspections, officials say.

In response to this incident, and many others, advocates are calling for a fundamental reform of the private carting industry. 

“Five Star Carting seriously injuring a cyclist in midtown on the same night as a citywide crackdown on dangerous private sanitation trucks is a tragic reminder that fundamental reform of a broken system can’t come soon enough,” said Justin Wood of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest in a statement. “While increased NYPD enforcement of traffic laws is a positive development, a single safety initiative will not change the irrational, long routes and inhumane 14- to 16-hour shifts that private sanitation companies pressure their workers to complete. Only a zoned waste system with efficient, dense customer routes and strong protections for workers will force irresponsible corporations to either reform their practices or leave the industry.”

The City of New York Department of Sanitation is soon expected to release the details of its proposed commercial waste zone system, where private carters would be held to high safety and environmental standards in exchange for the right to collect in an assigned zone. 

“The private carting industry needs comprehensive reform that respects our workers and communities," said Maritza Silva-Farrel, executive director at ALIGN, in a statement. "Sanitation companies must be held accountable to labor and environmental standards through an exclusive commercial waste zone system. We've been saying this for years: this industry needs long-term solutions, not just patches.”

NBC New York has more details:

A cyclist was hit and seriously injured in Manhattan when a private garbage truck smacked into him and it comes as the city launched an initiative to crack down on those private sanitation trucks.

The 43-year-old man was hit just after 9:30 Monday night at the corner of 47th Street and Fifth Avenue in Midtown, according to the FDNY. The victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

The driver of the private garbage truck stayed at the scene, police said. The victim suffered injuries to both of his arms. It wasn't immediately clear whether the driver would face any charges.

Read the full article here.