After Complaints, Waldbaum’s Keeps Parking Lot Clean

A spotless Waldbaums parking lot sat silently in the dark Autumn evening. The grocery chain, which nests at 18th Avenue and New Utrecht, has become the subject of complaints for trash build-up on its property.

At its October 7 meeting, Community Board 11 members reported grievances due to litter at the Waldbaums parking lot at 8121 New Utrecht Avenue.

District Manager Marnee Elias-Pavia said that at an earlier local merchants’ meeting held on September 15, Bensonhurst business owners discussed the onslaught of trash surrounding the lot.

“Nobody wants to shop and look at garbage,” Elias-Pavia said.

Since the establishment is private property, the Department of Sanitation cannot be held responsible for maintaining the refuse. Therefore, the board hopes to ensure close monitoring of the establishment to promote upkeep of the lot.

Elias-Pavia, who added that she personally walks around the neighborhood as often as twice a day, promised to keep an eye on the situation.

“It’s not just about improper disposal. It’s about education as well,” Elias-Pavia said. “We need to teach both residents and store owners about proper sanitation practices.”

Elias-Pavia added that since the 18th Avenue strip is both commercially and residentially populated, the occasional litter might be coming from overhead apartment dwellers who don’t properly dispose of trash.

Still, on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday early evenings that Bensonhurst Bean visited the site, the parking lot appeared to be spotless. There was no idle garbage, aside from the overflowing clothing donation bins and a few tied trash bags behind 18 Hipot, a neighboring Chinese hot pot-style restaurant.

Sal, an assistant manager at Waldbaums who asked us not to use his last name, said that the supermarket chain has been working with an external waste disposal company to take care of the garbage.

“Look outside and tell me if you see any trash,” Sal said.

Community Board 11, which meets monthly at the Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, serves as a local channel to the government of New York City, and tackles city agency and hyperlocal quality of life issues.

Should the litter-problem return, don’t hesitate to call 311 or phone Community Board 11 at (718) 266-8800. You can also let us know in the comments or by emailing nberke [at] bensonhurstbean [dot] com.