A Guide to Recycling in NYC

Are you aware that New York City has certain rules and regulations pertaining to recycling? This blog post will serve as a complete guide on how you can recycle waste in NYC. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from listing down the items that can go into organic waste collection to the approved methods.

Department of Sanitation

In NYC, regardless of whether you’re an individual citizen or representing any school or other institution, you can only recycle with the Department of Sanitation. Moreover, you must also use clearly labeled bins or clear trash bags approved by the authorities. Keep in mind that it’s extremely important to be aware of all the rules and regulations because the inability to abide by them can result in a ticket or even more serious consequences.

What Are the Recyclable Items?

You can’t recycle anything and everything you want, and the government has a clear outline of what things can be recycled. Currently, you’re allowed to recycle paper and cardboard, metal, glass items, cartons, and any rigid plastic.

When to Recycle?

You can’t just expect your recycling goods to be picked up any time you wish. Currently, the authorities have advised people to keep their recyclables at the curb between 4 PM and midnight when their recycling pickup day is scheduled. However, keep in mind that if there’s any public holiday on your pickup day, then your day will be rescheduled during the following week. The good thing is that you can wear as many bags as you wish.

What Things Can You Separate?

According to the recycling authorities’ guidelines, New Yorkers need to separate certain recyclables before placing them into clear plastic bags or throwing them into a recycling bin.

What Can You Include with Paper and Cardboard?

In this category, you include all the old magazines, newspapers, catalogs, unwanted receipts, envelopes, damaged or unwanted softcover books, cartons, and cardboard containers, paper bags, paper plates and cups, towel rolls, and any similar items.

Items that you aren’t allowed to include in this category are anything that’s contaminated with food, books with hardcover, your old photographs, bubble wraps, tissues, paper towels, napkins, and waxed or plastic-coated paper items.

Procedure for Paper and Cardboard Items

For all paper and cardboard items, you’ve to first tie them with twine into bundles that shouldn’t be any taller than 18 inches. Make sure that you place all paper/cardboard items in a clear plastic bag that’s not tinted and is between 13 and 55 gallons. In bins with green labels, you’re allowed to place only 32 gallons or less with green labels on both sides. Make sure that your bag or whatever container you’re using doesn’t weigh more than 60 pounds and is secured with a tight-fitting lid.

For corrugated cardboard boxes, you must flatten them and tie them with a sturdy twine into different bundles. No bundle should be more than 18 inches tall. You can’t place corrugated cardboards in containers or clear bags without breaking them into small pieces. In the case of the buildings that have a mechanized collection, you must collapse the cardboard and place each part into a designated dumpster.

Can You Put Metal and Plastic Items Together?

Currently, the guidelines allow you to put metallic and plastic items together. In this category, you can include cans, different types of plastic and metallic bottles or containers, plastic silverware and toys, and similar items. However, you aren’t allowed to put batteries, pouches, plastic bags, stationery items such as pens, cables, or wires and squeeze tubes into this category.

How to Deal with Metallic and Plastic Items?

You can place the above-mentioned items into clear bags or blue-labeled recycling bins that usually have a tight-fitting lid. Make sure that your clear bags aren’t tinted and between 13 and 55 gallons in size. Similarly, these bags should also not weigh any more than 60 pounds.

If you’re using containers, they should be 32 gallons or less with blue labels mentioned on both sides as well as on the lid. They should also be 60 pounds or under in weight.

If you are recycling any large metal items, such as your metallic appliances, you can keep them next to the recycling container but not inside it. If an appliance contains CFC gas, you must make an appointment for CFC and Freon Removal before recycling.

What Are the Rules for Recycling Glass items?

In glass items, you’re allowed to recycle only glass bottles and jars. It’s important to rinse them before you put them for recycling. In most circumstances, you’re allowed to mix glass items with plastic and metal and follow the same guidelines mentioned earlier.

You aren’t allowed to keep drinking glasses, eyeglasses, glass tables or windows, mirrors, bulbs, and similar items for recycling. If you include any pieces of broken glass, you must keep it in a cardboard box labeled ‘broken glass.’

How Can You Recycle Batteries and Large Appliances?

We mentioned earlier that you aren’t allowed to keep batteries in the recycling bins. If you have a rechargeable that you wish to recycle, you can bring it back to the retailers or any SAFE Disposal event. The same can be done for your electronic appliances. However, household alkaline batteries aren’t of any use and should be thrown away with the rest of the trash.

For large appliances such as refrigerators, you must reach out to the Department of Sanitation and request them to remove CFC or Freon before you place your appliance outside.

Working in Recycling Department

Do you know that you can also find many different jobs in the Federal Recycling departments? In Biden’s America, you may expect many new openings in recycling agencies. However, you might have to go through a certain screening process.

At Civil Service Success, we are preparing hundreds of applicants to appear for the civil service exams in different sectors relevant to their interests. We ensure that all our courses and preparation strategies are designed to train you for all sections of civil service exams. Get in touch with us to find out more.