Residents in Dyker Heights are seeing their trash pile up throughout the area. Neighbors tell News 12 the garbage has not been picked up since last week. 

Florence Rich says she sees rats gnawing at the bags when she leaves her home in the morning.

“You can see rats from across the street over to the houses gnawing at the bags,” says Rich. “It’s going to get worse. It’s not going to get better.” 

Those living in the area say this was never an issue before.  

In a statement to News 12, the Department of Sanitation says, “We are aware that there are collection delays. Residents may leave their material out – 9,500 DSNY employees work to collect 12,000 tons of trash and recycling each day, in every part of the city, and we continue our work.” 

Residents are worried about what is to come when the vaccine mandate for city workers goes into effect Friday. The Department of Sanitation has a 67% vaccination rate. 

Rich feels city workers will “dig their heels in on this issue.”  

She offers the city this solution: “The city should hire private carters to take the trash away.” 

Councilmember Justin Brannan took to social media saying he is working with DSNY and the unions to get back on track.