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NEW YORK — Faced with too much trash in one of the world’s biggest — and arguably dirtiest — subway systems, New York transit officials staged an unusual social experiment.

They removed garbage bins from 39 stations, figuring that would deter people from bringing trash into the system.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or NYC transit removed trash bins from subways hoping people wouldn't litter. Unsurprisingly, they littered more Back to video

They were wrong.

It was a no-go in a go-go city where eating and drinking is often done on the run.

People kept tossing their trash on platforms and tracks, causing fires. And hungry rats kept scurrying through stations drawn by garbage.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority run by New York state decided to end the test for good, saying there were better ways to try to keep the stations clean.

The decision was made in September, but state officials are now making their final evaluations.