New York City’s Commercial Waste Zone (CWZ) program is moving into its next phase. Beginning October 1, 2026, businesses in Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan will enter their official CWZ transition period.
Businesses in these two zones will have until November 30, 2026 to sign a new service agreement with a waste hauler authorized to operate within their zone. Beginning December 1, 2026, Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan will be fully implemented under the CWZ program.
Key Dates for Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan
October 1, 2026: Customer sign-up and transition period begins
November 30, 2026: Customer sign-up period ends
December 1, 2026: Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan are fully implemented
Businesses in these areas should use the transition period to make sure they have an agreement in place with a CWZ-authorized hauler before the November 30 deadline.
What Businesses Need to Do
Under the CWZ program, New York City is divided into 20 commercial waste zones, with a limited number of authorized carters selected to provide commercial waste collection services within each zone.
Once implementation begins in Brooklyn North and Upper Manhattan, businesses will need to enter into a written service agreement with an authorized hauler serving their zone. Businesses that already have waste service should confirm that their current provider is authorized to continue serving them under the CWZ program.
Businesses that do not have a CWZ contract in place by the final implementation date will be assigned to a zone-authorized carter at the maximum allowable rate, as required by law.
Don’t Wait Until the Deadline
The October 1 start date gives businesses two months to complete the transition, but there are good reasons to make arrangements early. Choosing a provider ahead of the deadline gives businesses more time to review their waste and recycling needs, confirm collection schedules and service frequency, and address any questions about recycling, organics, containerization, or other CWZ requirements.
Businesses can use Action Environmental Services’ CWZ Interactive Map to identify their Commercial Waste Zone and learn more about the service offered in their location.
Action Is Ready for the Next Phase of CWZ
Action Environmental Services has been preparing for New York City’s transition to Commercial Waste Zones from the beginning. As the rollout continues across the five boroughs, Action is helping businesses make the transition with as little disruption as possible.
Our investments in safety training, fleet technology, sustainability, and customer support are designed to provide the dependable waste and recycling services New York City businesses need, not only during the CWZ transition, but well beyond it.
Get Ready for October 1
If your business is located in Brooklyn North or Upper Manhattan, now is a good time to begin preparing for the upcoming transition.
Visit Action’s Commercial Waste Zones resource center to find your zone and learn more about your service options. We also encourage all NYC businesses to visit DSNY’s website for program information and the latest updates to the rollout. Visit: www.nyc.gov/cwz