NYC Business Recycling: Enforcement& Penalties

enforcement inspections
penalties

Enforcement Inspections

The NYC Department of Sanitation has the right to conduct lawful inspections at reasonable times to ensure compliance. Such inspections may include:

• Inspections to ensure compliance with implementation and notification requirements.
• Inspections of solid waste and/or designated recyclables placed out for collection by a generator to determine whether materials have been source separated as required.
• Inspections of solid waste brought to DSNY disposal facilities and inspections of solid waste transfer facilities.

See penalties below. Go to the Sanitation website to report a commercial recycling violation . For more information on recycling violations and enforcement, see the section on Commercial Recycling starting on page 33 in the Sanitation Rules and Regulations (pdf) .

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Penalties

Any person who violates NYC's Commercial Recycling Law is liable for the following civil penalties (as provided for under §16-324 of the New York City Administrative Code ):  

• First violation: $25
• Second violation: $50
• Third and each subsequent violation: $100 
• Persistent violators (fourth and any subsequent violation within a six month period): $500 for each violation

Operators of solid waste transfer stations that bring designated recyclable materials for disposal (or cause such materials to be brought for disposal) to any DSNY facility in an amount that should have been detected through reasonable inspection are liable for the following civil penalties (as provided for in §16-133(a)(2) of the New York City Administrative Code ): 

• First violation: not less than $2,500 nor more than $10,000
• Second violation (committed in a period of three years): not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000
• Third and any subsequent violation (commited in a period of three years): $10,000

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