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Average time to approve waste hauling applications (days) — New
Regulate the trade waste industry in the City. — Process license and registration applications for the trade waste industry in a timely manner.
The average time to approve a new waste hauling license application improved to 120 days in fiscal 2024 as BIC worked through its caseload, but then jumped to 192 days in fiscal 2025 and continued rising afterward. BIC attributes the fiscal 2025 slowdown to a significant loss of staff on the application review team, which increased the workload on remaining staff; the agency's later reports show the same staffing pressure continuing into fiscal 2026.
Researched July 15, 2026 — Business Integrity Commission, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, Business Integrity Commission, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 209 days | 150 days |
| FY23 | 168 days | 150 days |
| FY24 | 120 days | 150 days |
| FY25 | 192 days | 150 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 234 days | 150 days |
Why this is tracked
For much of the 20th century, private carting (trade waste) in New York City was dominated by a cartel with deep mob ties, which rigged prices, divided territory among haulers, and intimidated business owners who tried to switch carters. The City created the Trade Waste Commission under Local Law 42 of 1996 specifically to license and regulate the industry and remove organized crime's grip on it. In 2001-2002, its functions were folded into the newly formed Business Integrity Commission (BIC), which also took over regulation of the public wholesale markets and shipboard gambling, consolidating the City's anti-corruption oversight of these historically mob-linked industries under one agency.
About BIC - NYC Business Integrity Commission, New York City Business Integrity Commission - Wikipedia
Source: Licensing Unit/Legal Unit/Background Investigations Unit — via NYC Open Data: Mayor's Management Report, Agency Performance Indicators
Coverage shown: FY22–FY26, reported monthly.
Definition: The average number of days to process and approve new waste hauling license and registration applications, from the date of filing of the application to the date of approval by the Legal Unit. This does not include applications that undergo long-term investigations and are subsequently approved.