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What are the recycling rules for New York City residential buildings?

October 10, 2023 - 12:30AM
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View from recylcing
In a nutshell
In New York City, there are both mandatory and voluntary recycling programs, including recycling for paper, cartons, cardboard, organics, metals, glass, hard plastics, clothing, electronics, and soft plastics, although the organic recycling program was temporarily halted during the pandemic.

In New York City, there are some recycling programs that are mandatory and some that are voluntary. Recycling has evolved over the years and like anything else, it changes and improves. During the pandemic, the organic recycling program was halted due to Department of Sanitation constraints. As of this writing, some neighborhoods have been able to get their organic recycling back, but not all.

MandatoryVoluntary

Paper, cartons & cardboard:

Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, mixed paper
Food and beverage cartons
Pizza boxes, egg cartons, corrugated cardboard boxes

Organics Recycling:

Food scraps and yard waste can be recycled and used to create compost and renewable energy. 

Metals, glass and hard plastics:

Metal cans, aluminum foil, metal caps and lids
Glass bottles, glass jars
Plastic containers

refashionNYC:

Used clothing, materials and fabrics are recycled through this program that either donates it to Goodwill or reuses it as insulation or furniture fillers.

E-cycling:

Computers, printers, TVs

 

The city has published guidelines for setting up recycling areas in apartment buildings as well as a list of recyclable and non-recyclable refuse

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tina Larsson Headshot
Tina Larsson is the co-founder of The Folson Group, New York City's leading co-op and condo consultancy. A prominent speaker on proactive co-op/condo leadership and ESG matters, Tina is the author of Living the High Life: How Smart Co-op and Condo Owners Protect Themselves and Their Investment. In... [read more]