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 __ ?