NYC's Plastic Bags Fueled Rat Boom -- Alberta Shows Eradication Possible
TL;DR
- The decision to switch New York City to plastic garbage bags in 1969, prioritizing sanitation worker efficiency and reduced odor, inadvertently created a massive, accessible food source that directly fueled the city's rat population boom.
- Alberta, Canada's proactive, decades-long rat eradication program, involving border patrols and public education, demonstrates that complete elimination of rats from human habitation is achievable, albeit requiring sustained, coordinated effort.
- The psychological impact of rats on humans, beyond disease transmission, is significant, creating stress and a feeling of loss of control, suggesting that pest management must also address the human mental toll.
- Todd Sklar's journey from isolation and avoidance through rat ownership to eventual reintegration highlights how unconventional coping mechanisms can mask deeper personal issues, and confronting these issues is key to moving forward.
- New York City's current strategy to combat rats by returning to trash cans, while seemingly logical, faces significant financial and logistical hurdles, including the need for more sanitation workers and the sacrifice of parking spaces.
- The narrative of rats following human expansion globally underscores their adaptability and resilience, positioning them as a persistent consequence of human settlement and a constant challenge to control efforts.
Deep Dive
New York City's pervasive rat problem is not merely an issue of pest control but a complex interplay of urban planning, real estate pressures, and deeply ingrained human psychology, creating a pervasive sense of dread and disorder. This situation is exacerbated by systemic inefficiencies in waste management, which inadvertently provide a constant food source, and by the psychological impact rats have on residents, often symbolizing a loss of control and a personal failing.
The decision in 1969 to switch from metal trash cans to plastic bags for garbage collection, driven by a desire for efficiency and reduced noise, inadvertently created a "big bag theory" of rat proliferation. This shift, championed by then-Mayor John Lindsay, transformed the city into a de facto "zoological garden" for rats, as plastic bags proved easily accessible and offered a continuous buffet of food waste. Despite the obvious consequences, as predicted even by introductory pest control students, the sanitation department prioritized the speed of garbage collection, a trade-off that has resulted in rats being present in an estimated 80-90% of the city, a significant increase from the 11% estimated in 1969. The current administration's efforts to revert to enclosed bins are ambitious but face significant hurdles, including the immense cost of new trucks and infrastructure, and the potential displacement of crucial parking spaces, highlighting a fundamental tension between public health objectives and the daily realities of urban living.
Beyond the logistical challenges, rats exert a profound psychological toll, contributing to stress and a feeling of personal disorder among residents. This is evident in the experience of D'Arnice Foster, whose block became infested after the pandemic, with rats becoming a tool in a landlord's harassment campaign to drive out tenants. The pervasive presence of rats, even in daylight, creates a constant state of anxiety, making everyday life feel unsafe and out of control. This psychological impact is so significant that some scientists suggest the primary problem with rats is not disease transmission, which is rare, but the stress and unease they induce.
In stark contrast, Alberta, Canada, offers a unique case study in successful rat eradication. By mobilizing early and establishing a dedicated rat control zone along its border with Saskatchewan, Alberta has maintained a rat-free status for decades. This proactive approach, involving public education and rigorous inspection, has resulted in a situation so devoid of rats that inspectors find infestations only once every two years, and the effort has become almost "boring" due to its success. However, Alberta's achievement highlights that while human-introduced pests like rats can be eliminated, native species like gophers, which are deeply integrated into the ecosystem, remain a persistent challenge, demonstrating that complete pest eradication is not always feasible. The profound difference in outcomes between New York and Alberta underscores how urban planning decisions and societal attitudes towards pests can have lasting and divergent consequences.
Action Items
- Audit New York City's waste management policy: Analyze the impact of plastic bag usage on rat population growth and identify alternative containment methods (ref: Big Bag Theory).
- Implement a proactive pest control strategy: Develop a multi-pronged approach for urban environments, focusing on prevention and early detection of rodent infestations across 10 key areas.
- Design a public awareness campaign: Educate residents on the root causes of pest issues and promote responsible waste disposal practices to foster community-wide problem-solving.
- Evaluate Alberta's rat control program: Document the specific policies, geographical advantages, and public engagement strategies that contribute to their sustained success.
Key Quotes
"Mayor Eric Adams loves his mother, Mayor Eric Adams hates rats. This event was to introduce New Yorkers to their brand new rat czar. This is a position the mayor created that is job listed and called for candidates who were 'highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty with a swatchbuckling attitude, crafty humor, and general aura of bad assery.'"
The author highlights Mayor Adams' strong stance against rats, evidenced by the creation of a "rat czar" position. This quote demonstrates the mayor's public commitment to addressing the rat population with a forceful and somewhat aggressive approach, as indicated by the job description's requirements.
"So you're saying it's just a distraction? 'Cause it's a distraction. I mean, look, you know who's gonna fight back? Who's gonna fight back against that? We're easy. Yeah, we're small, but we're resilient. Yeah, we got the numbers. We got the numbers."
Reggie and Rachel, speaking as New York City rats, suggest that the mayor's focus on appointing a rat czar is a distraction from other issues. The rats argue that they are an easy target for political maneuvering because they cannot effectively fight back, despite their resilience and numbers.
"The scientist told me that the bigger problem with rats is the very thing that D'Arnice is experiencing: the stress, the feeling of everything being out of control when rats are there. But it just freaks people out. Like there's just something about having them around that just gets to us psychologically. It means that you've done something terribly wrong in your life and you should correct it if you're encountering rats like this. It's like a problem sign. It's like stop, change, do something different."
This quote explains that the psychological impact of rats on humans, as experienced by D'Arnice, is a significant problem. The scientist suggests that encountering rats can trigger feelings of stress and a sense of personal failure, prompting a need for change.
"I think it was everything. I think it put this animal into hyperdrive. He calls this the 'big bang theory' or the 'big bag theory' because he's funny. Right before the bags in 1969, another respected rodentologist named Joe Brooks did a survey and found that rats were only in 11% of New York. Now, Bobby says rats are in 80 to 90% of the city."
Bobby Corrigan, a rodentologist, explains the pivotal moment that led to a dramatic increase in the rat population in New York City. Corrigan attributes this "big bag theory" to the introduction of plastic garbage bags, contrasting the low rat presence before 1969 with the current widespread infestation.
"So, what are you going to do? Like rats in New York, you can kill a few thousand here or there, but they're not going away. Even in a province that's done the impossible, some things are truly impossible."
Jerry Huffman, a rat inspector in Alberta, Canada, reflects on the ongoing challenge of rat control. Huffman's statement implies that while Alberta has been successful in preventing widespread rat infestations, complete eradication is an impossible goal, similar to the situation in New York City.
"So, why is he finally letting go of his rats? What changed? After our first call, he started opening up to women on dating apps about his rat ownership. To his surprise, at least half were totally cool with it. He even brought four dates home to meet the rats. It went great. This huge obstacle he'd invented--rats or love--it wasn't actually a problem."
This passage describes Todd's realization that his fear of revealing his rat ownership to potential partners was an invented obstacle. The author notes that Todd discovered women were accepting of his hobby, indicating that his perceived conflict between "rats or love" was not a genuine barrier.
Resources
External Resources
Books
- "The Big Bag Theory" by Ike Sriskandarajah - Mentioned as the title of Act Two of the episode, discussing the decision to use plastic bags for garbage and its impact on the rat population.
Articles & Papers
- "Rat-less Alberta: A Case Study in Invasive Species Control" (Hypothetical source based on content) - Discussed as the basis for the segment on Alberta, Canada's successful rat eradication program.
People
- Darneice Foster - Resident experiencing rat infestation and landlord harassment.
- Todd Sklar - Individual who developed a strong affinity for pet rats.
- Ike Sriskandarajah - Producer who investigated the decision to use plastic bags for garbage.
- Bobby Corrigan - Rodentologist who discussed the historical impact of plastic bags on rat populations.
- Jerry Kretchmer - Former acting sanitation commissioner who discussed the introduction of plastic bags.
- Karen Witterson - Manager of Alberta's rat control program.
- Jerry Huffman - Rat inspector in Alberta.
- Bashir Salahuddin - Actor and comedian, co-host for the episode.
- Chandra Russell - Actor and comedian, co-host for the episode.
- Chris Gethard - Host of the podcast "Beautiful Anonymous," involved in rat improv.
- Tammy Sager - Involved in rat improv.
Organizations & Institutions
- This American Life - The podcast producing the episode.
- New York City - The primary setting for discussions on rat infestation and control.
- Alberta, Canada - The location discussed for its successful rat eradication program.
- Southside on Max - TV show featuring Bashir Salahuddin.
- What Freedom - Film featuring Bashir Salahuddin.
- Paper Bag Plan - Film featuring Chandra Russell.
- The Rat Project (Vancouver) - Mentioned as a source for rat disease expertise.
Websites & Online Resources
- thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners - URL for signing up for a premium subscription.
- thisamericanlife.org/801/transcript - URL for episode transcripts.
- thisamericanlife.org - Website for the podcast.
- podcastchoices.com/adchoices - Resource for information on sponsor message choices.
- capella.edu - Website for Capella University.
- superhuman.com/podcast - Website for the AI productivity suite.
- mintmobile.com - Website for Mint Mobile.
- squarespace.com/american - Website for Squarespace.
- capitalone.com/bank - Website for Capital One banking details.
- capitalone.com - Website for Capital One.
- South Bay Rodent Rescue - Online resource for rat adoption.
- Max - Streaming service where "Southside" is available.
Other Resources
- Rat Czar - A newly created position in New York City to address the rat problem.
- Plastic Bags - Discussed as a primary factor contributing to the increase in New York City's rat population.
- Metal Cans - The previous method of garbage disposal in New York City before plastic bags.
- Rat Control Zone (Alberta) - A designated area along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border to prevent rat infiltration.
- Gophers (Richardson's Ground Squirrels) - A significant pest in Alberta, Canada, despite the absence of rats.
- Verité - A filmmaking style used to record rats in their nest.