Recycling in the Private Sector

All New York City businesses are required to recycle.

Businesses and buildings that contract directly with a private carter or recycler are mandated to recycle under NYC’s Local Law 87 and Commercial Recycling Regulations, enacted in 1992.

All commercial businesses in New York City must keep recyclable materials separate from trash for collection by arrangement with their private carter or recycler. (Except for the Professional Fee Program, the NYC Department of Sanitation does not service commercial businesses.)

See below for a summary of commercial recycling regulations, or download a copy of Recycling: It’s Not a Choice, It’s the Law — A Handbook for NYC Businesses. To order hard copies, use the literature/decal request form on the Sanitation website or call 311.

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 29 in the Digest of Codes.

Besides being the law, recycling can also save businesses money by reducing carting costs. If substantial quantities of recyclables are collected, recycling can even generate revenues. Visit recycling case studies to see how other businesses have benefited from recycling.

See recyclers and vendors for common recyclables, where to buy bins, recycling consultants to help set up a recycling program, and places that accept toner cartridges, textiles, pallets, plastic film, computers, and a wide variety of other materials.

Check work or business-related Frequently Asked Questions.

ALSO SEE information on recycling in residences, City Agencies, and institutions.

what to recycle
how to recycle
additional resources

What to recycle

Different types of businesses recycle different designated materials. Check with your building manager or private carter/recycler to find out how your building recycles.

FOOD OR BEVERAGE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS MUST RECYCLE
(restaurants, delicatessens, bars, caterers, cafeterias, etc.):

• corrugated cardboard (flattened boxes)
• metal cans
• glass bottles and jars
• plastic bottles and jugs
• aluminum foil products

See Bottle Bill for disposal of bottles and cans with a deposit.  If your customers clear their own tables, provide labeled containers for their recyclables.

Bundle cardboard. Mix metal, glass, plastic, and foil together in the same blue translucent or clear plastic bag, recycling dumpster, or labeled container.

ALL OTHER BUSINESSES MUST RECYCLE:
(offices, retail stores, supermarkets, manufacturers, etc.)

• corrugated cardboard (flattened boxes)
• office paper
• magazines, catalogs, phone books
• newspapers
• textiles (if more than 10 percent of your waste stream, e.g., in textile and garment industries)

Check to see if your building recycles other kinds of paper, too.

Place paper materials together in a bundle, clear plastic bag, recycling dumpster, or labeled container.

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How to recycle

Every business that generates designated materials must recycle. Building and business owners/managers who contract with private carters have additional recycling requirements.

All commercial businesses/commercial tenants must

• prominently post signs notifying employees about what and how to recycle.

• also notify customers and clients, if they regularly discard recyclables.
  Examples: copy shops where customers discard paper, self-serve restaurants and company cafeterias where customers buy drinks in cans or bottles.

• place labeled recycling containers where designated materials are routinely discarded.

• keep designated recyclables separate from garbage.

Whoever contracts with the private carter — building or business owners/managers — must ALSO

• produce a written recycling agreement with your carter.

• display carter decal stating garbage and recycling collection arrangements.

• post notices in maintenance areas describing recycling collection procedures.

• instruct building employees and tenants, as applicable, to keep designated recyclables separate from garbage. Note that all requirements apply to stores, restaurants, and other businesses with private carters. Work with your building cleaning staff to maintain separation of recyclables.

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