Patch

In addition to collecting, recycling, and disposing of the city’s waste, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) also clears streets of debris, snow, and ice. On September 11, 2001, DSNY sent equipment and more than 1,000 workers to Ground Zero to aid the rescue efforts. Throughout the nine-month recovery period, DSNY personnel removed debris, provided garbage and recycling services, and washed streets to keep toxic dust from spreading around lower Manhattan.

By September 12, 2001, DSNY had reopened the recently closed Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. There, they hosted NYPD‑ and FBI‑led recovery operations, which included searching for criminal evidence, human remains, and personal effects. DSNY workers unloaded and separated materials from barges and trucks for detailed screening.

This commemorative patch honors the DSNY Emergency Response Division (ERD). Days after the attacks, DSNY created an ERD to formally distinguish its new, 9/11 recovery tasks from regular sanitation duties and to assign staff to Ground Zero and Fresh Kills Landfill. Even with additional responsibilities, DSNY continued providing its regular services throughout New York City.