Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has announced the appointment of Gregory Anderson as Commissioner of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). Anderson will lead the nation鈥檚 largest municipal waste management agency, with nearly 10,000 employees who collect 24 million pounds of waste each day and keep the city鈥檚 6,000 miles of streets clean and clear of snow.
Anderson returns to DSNY after nearly a decade of experience at the agency. He was a key architect of the city’s 鈥淭rash Revolution,鈥� advancing waste containerization and public space cleanliness initiatives. He also helped negotiate landmark legislation establishing commercial waste zones and mandatory curbside composting. He previously served as a founding board member of the Sanitation Foundation, DSNY’s nonprofit partner.
Most recently, Gregory served as Deputy Director of State Operations for Governor Kathy Hochul, supporting the day-to-day management of more than 70 state agencies and authorities serving 20 million New York State residents. He led interagency emergency management efforts, coordinating responses to snowstorms, floods and other emergencies, as well as preparedness for major events.
After deftly guiding DSNY for a year and four months as Acting Commissioner, including through the historic snowfall and sustained cold of 2026, Javier Lojan will resume his role as First Deputy Commissioner.
鈥淭his is a well-deserved homecoming,鈥� said Mayor Mamdani. 鈥淎s Commissioner, Gregory will carry forward the transformative projects he helped build, from waste containerization and curbside composting to commercial waste reform. He joins DSNY at a pivotal moment. This winter, New York鈥檚 Strongest showed what public service at its best looks like, working 12-hour shifts over more than 40 days to plow thousands of streets and clear record numbers of crosswalks and bus stops. I want to thank Javier for his leadership and continued service, and I look forward to working with Gregory to keep pushing forward to build a cleaner, healthier and more just city for all New Yorkers.鈥�
鈥淒SNY is in good hands with Gregory Anderson, an experienced innovator who spent nearly a decade at the agency modernizing how we keep our city clean and moving,鈥� said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. 鈥淲ith his background in sanitation, environmental policy and emergency response, he is ready to lead New York鈥檚 Strongest during this new era for our city. I am so grateful to Javier for guiding the agency for over a year and through a historic winter and his continued leadership as First Deputy Commissioner. I look forward to seeing the great things DSNY will accomplish for all who call New York home.鈥�
鈥淎s we have all seen over the last two months, DSNY provides some of the most essential services for New Yorkers. Under the Mayor’s leadership, we will start a new era for our city’s neighborhoods, one where cleanliness is measured not by the absence of trash but by vitality and well-maintained public spaces,鈥� said DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson. 鈥淎s Commissioner, I will work tirelessly to deliver on the promise of a clean city 鈥� one where every New Yorker leaves their home to a block they take pride in, a neighborhood they cherish and a city that helps them thrive. Thank you, Mayor Mamdani, for this incredible opportunity.鈥�
鈥淚 am pleased to welcome Greg Anderson as the new DSNY Commissioner, and I鈥檓 confident that the Department will continue to thrive under his leadership,鈥� said DSNYFirst Deputy Commissioner Javier Lojan. 鈥淪erving as Acting Commissioner has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I am proud of the work we accomplished together on behalf of New Yorkers. As I transition back to my role as First Deputy Commissioner, I remain fully committed to supporting the Department鈥檚 mission and ensuring a seamless transition as we continue delivering for New York City every day.鈥�
鈥淎s a resident, I鈥檓 thrilled to see Greg take on the role of Sanitation Commissioner. Having worked closely with him in both city and state government, I鈥檝e seen his ability to navigate complex operations firsthand,鈥� said Kathryn Garcia, Executive Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and former DSNY Commissioner. 鈥淔rom emergency snow response to waste and environmental policy expertise, he has what it takes to deliver a cleaner, healthier and more livable New York City.鈥�