Stephen Dubner

When someone posted a video of the truck in action on social media, the sanitation department retweeted the video with a message. This was our moon landing. Now, before we go making fun of New York City for what some people might consider an overstatement, let's consider this. Trash tech is one thing to get right. Trash behavior is another. Jessica Tisch realizes this.

When someone posted a video of the truck in action on social media, the sanitation department retweeted the video with a message. This was our moon landing. Now, before we go making fun of New York City for what some people might consider an overstatement, let's consider this. Trash tech is one thing to get right. Trash behavior is another. Jessica Tisch realizes this.

And that's not the only behavior change to worry about. Back on the street with Bobby Corrigan, we still haven't seen a rat, but on a nearby park bench, we do come across signs of recent human activity. A discarded wrapper from a raisin cake.

And that's not the only behavior change to worry about. Back on the street with Bobby Corrigan, we still haven't seen a rat, but on a nearby park bench, we do come across signs of recent human activity. A discarded wrapper from a raisin cake.

And that's not the only behavior change to worry about. Back on the street with Bobby Corrigan, we still haven't seen a rat, but on a nearby park bench, we do come across signs of recent human activity. A discarded wrapper from a raisin cake.

Further down the street, we come across a bank of the new trash containers for big buildings. Corrigan is impressed.

Further down the street, we come across a bank of the new trash containers for big buildings. Corrigan is impressed.

Further down the street, we come across a bank of the new trash containers for big buildings. Corrigan is impressed.

Actually, everything about New York's new trash plan is expensive. The new bins, the new trucks, the new vigilance.

Actually, everything about New York's new trash plan is expensive. The new bins, the new trucks, the new vigilance.

Actually, everything about New York's new trash plan is expensive. The new bins, the new trucks, the new vigilance.

That's a nice thought, in theory at least, that New York City's rats will just move on to some other place if their food supply is constrained. But first, there needs to be evidence that the new containerization plan is actually working. The other day, walking down the street, I came across a few of the new wheelie bins that Jessica Tisch is so excited about.

That's a nice thought, in theory at least, that New York City's rats will just move on to some other place if their food supply is constrained. But first, there needs to be evidence that the new containerization plan is actually working. The other day, walking down the street, I came across a few of the new wheelie bins that Jessica Tisch is so excited about.

That's a nice thought, in theory at least, that New York City's rats will just move on to some other place if their food supply is constrained. But first, there needs to be evidence that the new containerization plan is actually working. The other day, walking down the street, I came across a few of the new wheelie bins that Jessica Tisch is so excited about.

They were lying on their sides, the lids broken off the hinges. And if I were a rat, I would be excited. What do we have here? Shake Shack, Luke's Lobster, maybe even per se. There have also been reports of rats chewing through these supposedly rat proof trash bins.

They were lying on their sides, the lids broken off the hinges. And if I were a rat, I would be excited. What do we have here? Shake Shack, Luke's Lobster, maybe even per se. There have also been reports of rats chewing through these supposedly rat proof trash bins.

They were lying on their sides, the lids broken off the hinges. And if I were a rat, I would be excited. What do we have here? Shake Shack, Luke's Lobster, maybe even per se. There have also been reports of rats chewing through these supposedly rat proof trash bins.

In a recent interview, the president of New York's Sanitation Workers Union said things that work throughout the country don't work in New York. New York is New York. It's its own thing. Now, given his position, he may be sending a message because the more you automate trash pickup, the fewer jobs there will be for sanitation workers. Coming up after the break, is a rat-free city even possible?

In a recent interview, the president of New York's Sanitation Workers Union said things that work throughout the country don't work in New York. New York is New York. It's its own thing. Now, given his position, he may be sending a message because the more you automate trash pickup, the fewer jobs there will be for sanitation workers. Coming up after the break, is a rat-free city even possible?

In a recent interview, the president of New York's Sanitation Workers Union said things that work throughout the country don't work in New York. New York is New York. It's its own thing. Now, given his position, he may be sending a message because the more you automate trash pickup, the fewer jobs there will be for sanitation workers. Coming up after the break, is a rat-free city even possible?