"With all of its infrastructure and its wealth, you would think that they would design their city for a better way to remove their trash."
Trash collection is big business, status quo. No innovative thinkers welcome.
All thrash in NYC must go out through the front door as the city lacks a network of service alleys. From the richest to the poorest, the trash must be placed in front of one’s house at the curb. Businesses perform this routine daily. NY will always be dirty.