NYC RECYCLING GUIDELINES

Learn what you need to do as a resident and how to separate and set-out your recycling properly.

Metal (all kinds)

  • metal cans (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, empty paint cans, etc.)
  • aluminum foil and foil products (wrap and trays)
  • metal caps and lids
  • household metal items (wire hangers, pots, tools, curtain rods, small appliances that are mostly metal, certain vehicle license plates, etc.)
  • bulky metal items (large metal items, such as furniture, cabinets, large mostly metal appliances, DOES NOT INCLUDE electronic devices banned from disposal)

Glass

  • glass bottles and jars ONLY

Plastic (rigid plastics)

  • plastic bottles, jugs, and jars
  • rigid plastic caps and lids
  • rigid plastic food containers (yogurt, deli, hummus, dairy tubs, cookie tray inserts, “clamshell” containers, other rigid plastic take-out containers)
  • rigid plastic non-food containers (such as “blister-pack” and “clamshell” consumer packaging, acetate boxes)
  • rigid plastic housewares (flower pots, mixing bowls, plastic appliances, etc.)
  • bulk rigid plastic (crates, buckets, pails, furniture, large toys, large appliances, etc.)

Note:  Rigid plastic is any item that is mostly plastic resin—it is relatively inflexible and maintains its shape or form when bent.

Cartons

  • Food and beverage cartons
  • Drink boxes
  • Aseptic packaging (holds beverages and food: juice, milk and non-dairy milk products, soup, etc.)

Paper

  • newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, mixed paper
  • white and colored paper (lined, copier, computer; staples are ok)
  • mail and envelopes (any color; window envelopes are ok)
  • receipts
  • paper bags (handles ok)
  • wrapping paper
  • soft-cover books (phone books, paperbacks, comics, etc.; no spiral bindings) (schools should follow their school  book recycling procedures)

Cardboard

  • cardboard egg cartons
  • cardboard trays
  • smooth cardboard (food and shoe boxes, tubes, file folders, cardboard from product packaging)
  • pizza boxes (remove and discard soiled liner; recycle little plastic supporter with rigid plastics)
  • paper cups (waxy lining ok if cups are empty and clean; recycle plastic lids with rigid plastics)
  • corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened)


Not Accepted

  • paper with heavy wax or plastic coating (candy wrappers, take-out and freezer containers, etc.)
  • soiled or paper (napkins, paper towels, tissues)
  • hardcover books (schools should follow their school  book recycling procedures)
  • Batteries
  • Electronic devices banned from disposal
  • Plate glass
  • Ceramics
  • Window blinds
  • Foam plastic items (such as foam food service containers, cups and trays, foam protective packing blocks, and, and foam packing peanuts)
  • Flexible plastic items (such as pouches and squeeze tubes)
  • Film plastic (such as plastic shopping bags and wrappers.) Bring plastic bags and film to participating stores for recycling
  • Cigarette lighters and butane gas lighters
  • Cassette and vhs tapes
  • Pens and markers
  • “Tanglers” (such as cables, wires, cords)
  • Rigid plastic containers containing medical “sharps”

Answers to all your questions direct from NYC Department of Sanitation, just click.

What to Recycle  

What do do with old Electronics

Collection Large Items

How to get rid of __ ?