In the 1970s, Central Park was full of litter and graffiti. Steel drums served as trash receptacles. Garbage and recycling trucks crossed onto lawns and pedestrian paths to reach the overflowing bins.
The Park is an incredibly different place now. After 40 years of work and partnering with the public, the Central Park Conservancy transformed the Park into a world-renowned and thriving greenspace. Our 42 million annual visitors cherish these 843 acres as an inviting oasis in the middle of the most populated city in the U.S.
Especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, appreciation for—and use of—Central Park has significantly increased. More New Yorkers than ever have turned the Park into a place for working out, communing with nature and friends, and improving their emotional wellbeing. The Conservancy’s collaboration with the public has never been more important as we all reap the benefits of this essential shared greenspace. So how do we manage all the trash and recyclables generated by all of our visitors? Efficiently, with the help of our trash management and recycling program. But we could not do it without the help of Park-goers who are dedicated to keeping their backyard clean.
"Carry In, Carry Out"
It takes a community to help Central Park stay healthy. Our visitors have a hand in keeping the Park clean, and without your help, it wouldn’t be possible to maintain its beauty or cleanliness. Whether you actively “carry in, carry out”—carrying out any trash you bring into the Park— volunteer, or support our work, we’re thankful for your partnership.
A Healthy Park Creates a Healthy City
Beginning with Sheep Meadow in 1980, the Conservancy removed trash cans from the interior of landscapes and placed them on nearby paths, the Drives, and the Park’s perimeter. This reduces vehicular traffic related to trash collection, which protects the Park’s landscapes and keeps visitors and Conservancy staff safer.
We’ve continued to reduce the number of locations throughout the Park where trash receptacles can be found. Less trash means fewer rats in the Park.
The urgent need to address public health directly led to the creation of Central Park, and 160 years later, public health is once again top of mind. Conservancy staff works with our community every day so the Park remains clean and accessible, and this experience shows us the incredible role proper trash management has in keeping a city and its people healthy. We cannot do it alone.
Tools of the Trade
Many people know Central Park as one of the most famous greenspaces in the world, but they don’t know that our trash cans are iconic as well! In 2013, we installed more than 700 garbage and recycling receptacles which were specifically designed and patented for Central Park. A major upgrade from the old steel drums, these receptacles can remain outdoors year-round and hamper rodents’ ability to climb inside. They are also made from partially recycled aluminum, and their one-of-a-kind design was inspired by the slats of Central Park’s benches.
In recent years we introduced an expanded electric fleet of carts for garbage collection to replace older gas-powered versions. Quieter, with no emissions, these new carts help to make our waste management even cleaner and greener. They are tailored for specific tasks such as collecting leaves and trash, serving as a power source for tools, assisting with specific technical services, and transporting staff throughout the Park, so the Conservancy has more time to maintain the Park’s landscapes―planting shrubs and flowers and caring for our lawns, among many other tasks.
Suggested Reading
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About the Conservancy
Seasons in Flux: How the New Climate Reality is Disrupting the Calendar for Parks
In extensive interviews for the Central Park Climate Lab, Conservancy staff members detail a new normal in the ways in which an urban park is planned for and operates, from planting seasons and choices to labor constraints and challenges. This warm winter was just the latest example, and it has long-lasting ramifications for greenspaces like Central Park.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Nature Lovers / Park Experts
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Wildlife
Getting to Know Central Park’s Squirrels
Squirrels are a familiar sight in Central Park, energetic and busy ambassadors to our shared greenspace. And perhaps no one knows them better than the data scientists behind the Squirrel Census.
Tags: Nature Lovers
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Restoration and Maintenance
Hand-in-Hand with Harlem: The Conservancy's Four-Decade Restoration of Central Park's North End
In the 1980s, the Conservancy turned its attention to the Harlem Meer and went on to address the needs of Central Park’s north end over the next four decades. Throughout all of this work, the communities surrounding the Park have been vital partners in the care and maintenance of their backyard.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Playgrounds
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Plants and Trees
Urban Forest Bathing: Cultivating Calmness in a Chaotic City
“I don’t know if the founders of the Conservancy knew the term ‘forest bathing, but they clearly understood the Park’s potential as a space for wellbeing and rejuvenation—it’s right there in the Conservancy’s mission statement!” Meet the individuals who are introducing forest bathing to the busy New Yorker.
Tags: Park Design / Trees / Nature Lovers