Gregory Anderson appointed as DSNY commissioner

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has appointed Gregory Anderson as the commissioner of the city’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY).  

Anderson will lead the municipal waste management agency, with nearly 10,000 employees who collect 24 million pounds of waste each day and keep the city’s 6,000 miles of streets clean and clear of snow. 

Anderson returns to DSNY after nearly a decade of experience at the agency. The department says he was a key architect of the city’s “Trash Revolution,” 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. 

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He most recently served as deputy director of state operations for Gov. Kathy Hochul, supporting the management of more than 70 state agencies and authorities serving 20 million New York state residents.  

“As we have all seen over the last two months, DSNY provides some of the most essential services for New Yorkers,” Anderson says. “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. As commissioner, I will work tirelessly to deliver on the promise of a clean city—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.” 

After guiding DSNY for a year and four months as acting commissioner, Javier Lojan will resume his role as first deputy commissioner. 

“This is a well-deserved homecoming,” Mamdani says. “As 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’s 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.”