What and How to Recycle in New York City

Recycling is the law in New York City. Residents, schools, institutions, agencies, and all commercial businesses must recycle.

The requirements detailed below apply to all New York City residences, as well as schools, institutions, and agencies serviced by the Department of Sanitation.

SEE what to recycle 

For information on setting up a school recycling program, see Recycling in Schools. To find out what happens to the recyclables the Department of Sanitation collects, go to what happens to recyclables?

To request free recycling literature and decals:
small quantities (less than 20)
large quantities
schools
agencies  

Improve recycling in your apartment building by participating in New York City's Apartment Building Recycling Initiative.

All street events, including block parties and street fairs, are required to recycle. Non-compliance with recycling regulations is punishable by fines starting at $25 and increasing to $500 for repeat violations. Find out how to recycle at your event.

If your business, institution, or agency site is serviced by a private carter for garbage collection, see the recycling requirements for commercial businesses. If your site's garbage is collected by DSNY, and any recyclables are collected by a private carter, see reporting requirements for recyclables. 

What to recycle: mandated materials
paper and cardboard
beverage cartons, bottles, cans, metal & foil
bulky metal and appliances with CFC gas
fall leaves (for certain districts)

Collection and ticket information
when to recycle and missed collections
recycling containers & decals
multi-unit and apartment buildings
recycling violations
what to do if you get a ticket

Other materials
auto batteries
auto fluids
computers and electronics
fluorescent bulbs
furniture
household batteries
paint
plastic bags
propane tanks, fire extinguishers, and other pressurized gas cylinders
rechargeable batteries
syringes, lancets and other household medical waste
thermostats, thermometers, and other mercury containing devices
tires
toner and ink cartridges
additional materials

Recycling tips
recycling symbol
helpful hints
for more information

What and How to Recycle:
PAPER & CARDBOARD

Place all paper together in CLEAR bags, or in any bin labeled with green recycling decals or marked " MIXED PAPER". (Or place in the white dumpster for paper recycling, if your building has one.)

Flatten and bundle large pieces of corrugated cardboard and tie with sturdy twine, or break into small pieces to place in your recycling bin or bag. (Or place loose in the white dumpster for paper recycling, if your building has one.)

See how you can reduce your junk mail.

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What and How to Recycle:
BEVERAGE CARTONS, BOTTLES, CANS, METAL & FOIL

Empty and rinse containers before recycling. Place all together in CLEAR bags, or in any bin labeled with blue recycling decals or marked "BOTTLES & CANS".

Remove caps & lids. Place METAL caps & lids in the recycling bin; put plastic caps & lids in the garbage.

Wrap knives or similar sharp metal objects in cardboard (such as a piece of cereal box) and secure with tape. Label the package "CAUTION: SHARP" and place with other designated metal, glass, plastic recyclables. For Home Sharps/Hypodermics, see Household Medical Wastes.

Place bulk metal next to recycling bins or bags.

Call 311 before discarding appliances that contain CFC gas.

5¢ deposit: Bring deposit bottles and cans back to the store for refunds.

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What and How to Recycle:
BULKY TRASH

YES - PLACE WITH  RECYCLING			NO - PLACE IN TRASH OR DISPOSE PROPERLY
Furniture and appliances that are predominantly metal* and are too big for your recycling container or clear bag — such as washing machines, metal filing cabinets, box springs, or water heaters — should be placed beside the recycling container on your regular Recycling Day. If you're participating in New York's Great Appliance Swap Out, be sure see important program details before setting any of your old items out for recycling collection. You must note your 311 appointment number for appliances with CFC gas as it is needed for filing your rebate. In order to receive the maximum rebate for a clothes washer, you must have the retailer recycle it since Sanitation does not provide proof of recycling for such items.			Non-recyclable trash that is too big for your garbage container or bag — such as mattresses, lumber, or debris from small construction or garden projects — may be placed at the curb on any regular garbage collection day. For info on how to handle TVs and other broken electronics, see electronics recycling. For info on how to donate reusable furniture and other goods, see new homes for old stuff.

The Department of Sanitation will collect up to six bulk items from one address. There are special regulations for wood from trees. For more information, see bulk collection on the DSNY website.

*Appliances with CFC Gas

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When to Recycle and Missed Collections

To find out your Recycling Day use the collection schedule feature on the Sanitation website, or call 311.

To report missed collections, call 311, or complete the Missed Collection form on the Sanitation website.

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Multi-Unit and Apartment Buildings

Residential building owners/landlords must notify tenants about recycling requirements, designate an accessible recycling area, and maintain signs explaining what and how to recycle. The Department of Sanitation recommends that landlords provide new tenants with recycling information with their lease, and remind tenants about their recycling responsibilities with lease renewals.

All tenants are required to keep recyclables separate from regular garbage and recycle according to their building management instructions in properly colored and labeled receptacles.

To report recycling violations, call 311 or visit the appropriate pages on the Sanitation website: apartment owner/manager recycling violations or apartment tenant recycling violations.

Improve recycling in your apartment building by participating in New York City's Apartment Building Recycling Initiative.

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Recycling Violations

Recycling violations carry fines of $25 (first Notice), $50 (second Notice), $100 (third Notice), and $500 (four or more Notices within a six-month period).

Buildings with ten or more apartments that receive four or more Notices of Violation within a six-month period will be fined $500 for each bag that violates recycling regulations, up to a maximum of 20 bags within a 24-hour period. This translates to a maximum fine of $10,000 per day.

Go to the Sanitation website to report a commercial recycling violation.

APARTMENT BUILDINGS: Owners/Landlords
APARTMENT BUILDINGS: Tenants
ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY HOMES
What to do if you get a ticket

APARTMENT BUILDINGS (3 or more units): Owners/Landlords

The following infractions could result in a Notice of Violation being issued against building owners/landlords of multi-unit buildings:

• Failure to post signs with specific recycling instructions for the building.
• Failure to have and maintain a tenant-accessible Recycling Area.
• Failure to remove garbage and non-recyclables from designated recycling containers.
• Failure to flatten and tie corrugated cardboard boxes (unless broken down into small pieces and placed in a bag, container, or dumpster).
• Failure to tie newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books into bundles no more than eighteen (18") inches high (if not placed in a bag or container).
• Placing mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books in any bag other than a 13-55 gallon clear plastic bag.
• Placing beverage cartons, bottles, cans, or foil in regular garbage.
• Using recycling containers or blue recycling bags for regular garbage.
• Using an improper recycling container or failing to provide appropriate containers.
• Placing separated recyclables out for collection in regular garbage containers.

APARTMENT BUILDINGS (3 or more units): Tenants

The following infractions could result in a Notice of Violation for tenants of multi-unit buildings:

• Failure to separate recyclables from regular garbage and place them in the proper containers provided by building management.
• Placing regular garbage in designated recycling containers.
• Failure to rinse beverage cartons, bottles, cans, and foil clean of food and residue.

ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY HOMES: Owners and Tenants

Homeowners and tenants in one- and two-family homes can receive a Notice of Violation for:

• Placing regular garbage in designated recycling containers.
• Failure to separate recyclables from regular garbage.
• Using recycling containers or blue recycling bags for regular garbage.
• Placing recyclables out for collection in regular garbage containers or bags.
• Failure to use appropriate recycling containers or bags.
• Failure to rinse beverage cartons, bottles, cans, and foil clean of food and residue.
• Failure to tie newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books into bundles no more than (18) inches high (if not placed in a bag or container).
• Failure to flatten and tie corrugated cardboard boxes (unless broken down into small pieces and placed in a bag or container).
• Placing mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books in any bag other than a 13-55 gallon clear plastic bag.
• Placing beverage cartons, bottles, cans, or foil in regular garbage containers or bags.

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Special Waste Sites - Residents Only

The NYC Department of Sanitation operates Self Help Special Waste Drop-Off Sites in every borough for the collection and recycling (or proper disposal) of: batteries (household & auto), fluorescent bulbs, latex paint, mercury-filled thermostats and thermometers, motor oil and filters, transmission fluid, and tires.

Special Waste sites are open to residents only. City agencies, schools, businesses, and institutions are not permitted to use these sites, and must make alternative arrangements for proper disposal and recycling of material. Residents, City agencies, schools, businesses, and institutions can use the links below for waste prevention tips and how to properly dispose of these items (do not place these materials in your recycling bin!):

batteries: automotive for residents
batteries: automotive for agencies
batteries: household
batteries: businesses
fluorescent bulbs
mercury thermometers and thermostats
motor oil
paint
tires

ALSO SEE reducing toxics at home, reducing workplace toxics, and recyclers and vendors for less toxic alternatives.

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Residents - First, consider donating your used furniture. To find a new home for your used furniture, visit new homes for old stuff. For disposal, see what and how to recycle: BULKY TRASH.

City Agencies and Schools - See furniture in Tips for Your Agency, and FAQ 

Businesses and Institutions - See end-of-life product management in Tips for Your Business 

ALSO SEE: NYC rechargeable battery law: info for consumers, and rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling: info for agencies.

While rechargeable batteries reduce waste and can be more economical than alkaline batteries, they may contain mercury, cadmium, lead, and other heavy metals which can be dangerous if not disposed of properly.

Residents - Effective December 2006, New York City's Rechargeable Battery Law (Local Law 97 of 2005) makes it illegal for New York City residents to discard rechargeable batteries in the trash.

All NYC stores that sell rechargeable batteries or products that contain rechargeable batteries (with the exception of small food stores) must accept up to ten batteries of the same shape and size as they sell, no purchase necessary.

Large Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) batteries are not covered under this law. Visit batteries in resources for more info.

Do not place these materials in your recycling bin.

Businesses, Agencies, and Institutions - All businesses, City agencies, and institutions are required to recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Visit rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling: info for agencies.

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Syringes, Lancets, and Other Household Medical Waste

Many people use syringes, needles, and lancets (known as household sharps) to manage their health care at home. Proper storage and disposal of used household sharps is necessary to protect children, pets, and Sanitation workers.

These products must be packaged safely, and can be discarded at any hospital or nursing home in New York State. If packaged safely, properly labeled sharps containers can be placed in the trash. Never place loose sharps in the trash and never place sharps containers in your recycling bin.

Visit household medical wastes in reducing toxics at home for info on syringes and lancets, thermometers, unwanted medications, and medical equipment.

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Toner and Ink Cartridges

Go to recyclers and vendors to find toner cartridge recyclers and manufacturers with toner cartridge recycling programs.

Visit new homes for old stuff to find toner cartridge donation outlets. 

Also See toner cartridges in Tips for Your Agency

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Additional Materials

For items not listed here, try the "how do I dispose of..." feature on the Sanitation website.

Go to recyclers and vendors to find recyclers for bulk quantities of items NOT collected for recycling by the NY Department of Sanitation, including cell phones, and CDs.

Visit new homes for old stuff to find places to donate, sell, or buy second-hand goods.

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Recycling Containers and Decals

The Department of Sanitation does not provide recycling or garbage bins or bags. See where to buy recycling bins. Any container can be used for recycling so long as it is properly labeled. Containers cannot be larger than 32 gallons and must have a lid. CLEAR bags must be 13- to 55-gallon size.

RECYCLING: MIXED PAPER (green decal)

RECYCLING: BOTTLES, CANS & FOIL (blue decal)

You can get free decals to label containers for curbside recycling collection using Literature/Decal Request or call the NYC Citizen Service Center at 311.

Decal application is most effective when decal is applied:

• to a receptacle that is dry, clean, and free of all dirt;
• during temperatures between 40° and 50°F; and
• to a receptacle with a smooth surface.

Request new decals when fading/peeling occurs.

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Recycling Symbol

Many residents are confused about what to recycle because so many products display the universal recycling symbol. However, only items that have a viable resale market are accepted by New York City's Recycling Program.

Some manufacturers voluntarily place a number inside the recycling symbol on their plastic products, but these numbers only serve to identify the plastic resins used in manufacturing, and do NOT indicate that the item is recyclable.

The only plastics accepted for recycling in New York City are bottles & jugs (with necks smaller than their bodies). All other plastic containers and all other plastic items should be placed in the regular trash — even if they are labeled #1 PETE or #2 HDPE.

Refer to the lists above to decide what to put into recycling containers. Do not place items in your recycling containers just because the package contains a recycling symbol or other recycling information. When in doubt, leave it out.

For more information, see can I recycle other plastics besides #1 & #2 bottles & jugs? in Frequently Asked Questions.

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Helpful Hints

• Keep containers for collecting paper in your main work areas, such as where you sort your mail and discard kitchen items. Devise your own system to make it easy for you.
• If you are concerned about the confidentiality of your mail, remove address labels and tear up or shred mail. Find out how to opt out of credit card offers and reduce junk mail.
• Set up a place in the kitchen to recycle paper packaging.
• Leave labels on. Discard plastic caps and lids; recycle all metal.
• Avoid pests and odors by rinsing recyclables before storing them.
• Save space by flattening beverage cartons and plastic bottles (it won't affect recyclability).
• Recycle aluminum foil used for wrapping, not for cooking (unless food and grease washes off easily).

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For More Information

See frequently asked questions; for links to additional information on recycling, see resources.

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