Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced today that the Department of Sanitation will sponsor a series of "Spring Cleaning" events in March, April, and May where New York City residents can get free, high-quality compost, recycle unwanted electronics items, or donate gently-used clothing and linens to local charitable organizations.  Compost is only available at events on April 5, 6, 12, and 13.

The events will be held in conjunction with the NYC Compost Project and Goodwill Industries.

The "Spring Cleaning" events will be held rain or shine, from 8 AM to 2 PM, on the following weekends at the listed sites:

• MANHATTAN - Electronics Recycling & Clothing Donation
  Sun, March 16 - Union Square, North Plaza
  Southeast corner of 17th St. and Union Square West; cars enter at 16th St. & Union Square West
  
  
• BRONX - Electronics Recycling, Clothing Donation & Compost Giveback
  Sat, April 5 & Sun, April 6 - Soundview Composting Facility
  Randall Avenue near the intersection with Metcalf Avenue, close to the Bruckner Expressway
  
  
• STATEN ISLAND - Electronics Recycling, Clothing Donation & Compost
  Giveback
  Sat, April 12 & Sun, April 13 - Fresh Kills Composting Facility
  West Service Road near exit 7 off Route 440
  
  
• QUEENS - Electronics Recycling & Clothing Donation
  Sat, May 3 - St. John's University, Alumni Hall Parking Lot
  Corner of Utopia Parkway & Union Turnpike; cars enter at Gate 4 on Union Tpke & 175th St.
  
  
• BROOKLYN - Electronics Recycling & Clothing Donation
  Sun, May 18 - Prospect Park, Willink Drive
  Next to Carousel near corner of Flatbush Ave. & Empire Blvd; cars enter at corner of Parkside & Ocean Aves.
  

For maps and driving directions, visit www.nyc.gov/wasteless (follow the link under "What's New."), or call 311.

"The upcoming events are a great opportunity to pick up compost (a natural soil enhancer) for your spring gardening, purchase a discounted compost bin, and put your old or unwanted electronics equipment and gently-used clothing and linens to good use," said Commissioner Doherty. 

If you can't make it to the special events, the Department encourages New Yorkers to donate unwanted clothing and other household items in good condition, to local thrift stores or non-profit organizations.  For more information on where to donate, visit www.nyc.gov/stuffexchange . 

COMPOST GIVEBACKS

NYC residents (sorry, no businesses) can receive unlimited amounts of free, high-quality compost (a natural soil enhancer) which can be mixed into flower and vegetable beds, blended with potting soil to revitalize indoor plants, or spread on lawns as a fertilizer.

Residents should bring a shovel and sturdy containers to take away compost.  A front-end loader will be onsite to fill pickup trucks.  Those who want their pickup trucks filled must bring a tarp to cover the compost for transport (Only vehicles registered to NYC addresses can pick up compost.  No commercial vehicles allowed.) 

The compost is from the Department's leaf and Christmas tree operations.  "The Department is extremely pleased to participate in the compost giveback program, which gives residents the opportunity to reuse the leaves and Christmas trees they once placed curbside," said Commissioner Doherty.

NYC residents can also purchase discounted compost bins for $20 to make their own compost at home.

The compost giveback events are being run with the assistance of the NYC Compost Project (www.nyccompost.org ), a Department-funded program providing compost outreach and education to NYC residents.  Members of the NYC Compost Project include the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Lower East Side Ecology Center, New York Botanical Garden, Queens Botanical Garden, and Staten Island Botanical Garden.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

The Department will also be collecting old or non-working computer equipment, TVs, DVD/VCRs, and cell phones from NYC residents at each "Spring Cleaning" event.

"Whenever you have electronics equipment or old clothing you no longer need, it is always better to arrange for these to be reused or recycled rather than thrown away," Commissioner Doherty said.  "While electronics devices are safe to use in the home or office, they do pose an environmental risk when improperly discarded."

New Yorkers can bring up to five pieces of old or non-working electronics equipment (computers, laptops, monitors, printers and scanners [desktop only], keyboards, mice, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, and cell phones) to any event.  All makes and models are accepted and drop-off is free. All electronics equipment will be recycled.

Cell phones collected during these events will benefit survivors of domestic violence through a program of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.  For more information visit www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence . 

This event is being held through the assistance of the Lower East Side Ecology Center and the support of Con Edison.  If you can't make it to the events, visit www.nyc.gov/wasteless/electronics to learn of other upcoming events or manufacturer-sponsored take-back programs.

CLOTHING AND LINEN DONATIONS

In an effort to reduce waste by capturing reusable textiles that would otherwise be thrown away, the Department, through the assistance of Goodwill Industries, is sponsoring a clothing and linens donation drive at each event.

Clothing and linens accepted for donation include: pants, dresses, shirts, sweaters, shoes, handbags, belts, blankets, towels, sheets, curtains, and tablecloths.  All clothing and linens should be placed in plastic bags and tied securely to avoid moisture contamination.  Tax-deduction receipts are available from Goodwill upon request. 

If you can't make it to the clothing donation drives, the Department encourages New Yorkers to donate unwanted clothing and other household items in good condition to local thrift stores or non-profit organizations.  For additional information on where to donate clothing and working household goods, visit the NYC Stuff Exchange: www.nyc.gov/stuffexchange .

For more information on directions and events, visit www.nyc.gov/wasteless, or call 311.