Viewing NYC Articles Categorized Under Garbage

[WATCH] How the Mafia Turned New York’s Trash Into a Billion-Dollar Goldmine

2026-05-01T12:00:00-04:00

This video delves into the shadowy history of how the Mafia quietly seized control of New York City's trash industry, transforming mundane waste into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Starting in the 1930s, post-Prohibition, mobsters like Vincent Squilante, through the Greater New York Cartmen's Association, systematically intimidated independent haulers and forced businesses to pay inflated prices for garbage collection in territories carved out across the city. This lucrative racket, overseen by figures like Carlo Gambino, expanded from commercial waste to municipal contracts and eventually into waste disposal, including landfills in Staten Island, New Jersey, and Upstate New York. The mob's involvement led to environmental disasters like toxic dumping and elevated cancer rates in communities. Despite federal investigations and a high-profile raid in Apalachin, New York, the mob's control remained largely intact for decades due to a pervasive culture of silence, political corruption, and law enforcement focusing on other crimes. Key figures like Squilante and his successor, James Failla, remained largely untouchable, living lavish lives funded by illicit trash money. It wasn't until the 1990s, with new RICO statutes and the establishment of the New York City Trade Waste Commission, that the Mafia's stranglehold on the industry was finally broken, allowing legitimate companies to bring transparency and competitive pricing to the collection and disposal of the city's 15,000 tons of daily waste.

The post [WATCH] How the Mafia Turned New York’s Trash Into a Billion-Dollar Goldmine appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] World's Largest Landfill Is Now A Massive Park | New York City's Freshkills

2026-01-14T12:00:00-05:00

Staten Island's Freshkills Park, once the world's largest landfill, has been remarkably transformed into one of New York City's largest wildland areas. For decades this was the world’s largest landfill, where 150 million tons of garbage was dumped along the banks of the Fresh Kills estuary in New York City’s Staten Island. But today these 200-foot tall mounds of trash have been transformed into a wildland recreation area nearly three times the size of Central Park. To see it first hand, my friends at Open House New York organized a sunset group walk with Mark Murphy, President of this impressive project, and Field Educator Jen Gallo. Discover the innovative landfill waste management techniques that led to this environmental sustainability success story on Staten Island, New York. Witness the ongoing ecological restoration efforts that are bringing new life to this urban green space.

The post [VIDEO] World's Largest Landfill Is Now A Massive Park | New York City's Freshkills appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Garbage Day in NYC is Lit

2024-06-17T12:00:00-04:00

. Comedian Petey DeAbreu—future mayor of New York City—jokes about everything from garbage day to bird governments in his Don't Tell Comedy set! Don’t Tell Comedy produces weekly shows in 100+ cities across the US in unique locations for a one-of-a-kind comedy experience! The location is kept a secret until the day of the show and the performers are a secret until they hit the stage! Check out our website for upcoming live shows in your city! www.donttellcomedy.com

The post [WATCH] Garbage Day in NYC is Lit appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] How Disney's Magical Trash Tubes Ended Up In New York City

2023-11-16T12:00:00-05:00

At Disney World, the Magic Kingdom uses a system of pneumatic tubes to keep trash out of sight for park visitors. While this was supposed to be the future of waste disposal, only one other place in the US uses something like it on a similar scale: Roosevelt Island in New York City.

The post [WATCH] How Disney's Magical Trash Tubes Ended Up In New York City appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] 'Trash Walking' Uncovers Usable Products in NYC Garbage Piles

2022-11-26T12:00:00-05:00

Anna Sacks is an environmental activist living in Manhattan, but she's better known on social media as "The Trash Walker."

The post [WATCH] 'Trash Walking' Uncovers Usable Products in NYC Garbage Piles appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] What Happens To New York City's 3.2 Million Tons Of Trash

2021-08-19T12:00:00-04:00

New York City is one of the most wasteful cities in the world. But none of its trash is actually processed in NYC. It's sent to waste-to-energy facilities and landfills as far away as Ohio and South Carolina. It takes a vast network of sanitation workers, trucks, trains, cranes, and barges — and $429 million a year — to get it there.

The post [WATCH] What Happens To New York City's 3.2 Million Tons Of Trash appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] Celebrating The City Cleanup Corps with STOMP

2021-08-06T12:00:00-04:00

The City Cleanup Corps is putting New Yorkers to work and cleaning up our streets. (And occasionally they help STOMP put on a show in Times Square.) NYC is coming back, baby!

Head to nyc.gov to learn more about the City Cleanup Corps.

The post [VIDEO] Celebrating The City Cleanup Corps with STOMP appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Meet New York City Essential Worker: Angel Santiago

2020-06-18T12:00:00-04:00

Williamsburg’s own Angel Santiago has been working for the Sanitation department for the past 25 years. He embodies the idea of essential workers. It may be getting warmer out, but we need to put the health and safety of heroes like Angel first: wear your mask.

The post [WATCH] Meet New York City Essential Worker: Angel Santiago appeared first on Viewing NYC

Documentary Reveals How Fresh Kills Transformed From World's Largest Garbage Dump to a World-Class Park

2019-03-28T14:00:00-04:00

This 2012 documentary from the Staten Island Borough President’s Office and director Andy Levison show how the Staten Island area of Fresh Kills was transformed from the world's largest garbage dump into a world-class park and nature reserve. It's almost an hour long, but if you have the time, it's well worth the watch. Check it out!

For many years, all of New York City’s garbage was brought to Fresh Kills. At over 2,200 acres, it grew to become the world’s largest garbage dump. This 1-hour documentary reveals what Fresh Kills looked and smelled like, how it affected neighboring communities, the hurtful reputation it gave Staten Island, and the long and difficult battle to close it.

The post Documentary Reveals How Fresh Kills Transformed From World's Largest Garbage Dump to a World-Class Park appeared first on Viewing NYC

Drunk Driver Destroys Part of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn With Out-of-Control Garbage Truck

2018-06-10T15:00:00-04:00

An out-of-control garbage truck wreaked havoc on a Brooklyn neighborhood, crushing cars, taking down trees and damaging a home. As CBS2’s Lisa Rozner reports, the alleged drunk driver tried to run from the chaotic scene in Bensonhurst but was captured by police.

The post Drunk Driver Destroys Part of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn With Out-of-Control Garbage Truck appeared first on Viewing NYC