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NYC Business Recycling: What to Recycle
Businesses are required to recycle different materials based upon their business category:
According to the NYC Commercial Recycling Law, all businesses are required to source separate their recycling, which means no mixing of trash and recyclables and "sorting it out afterwards" (sometimes referred to as post-collection separation of recyclables).
Food or Beverage Service Establishments (restaurants, delicatessens, bars, caterers,
cafeterias, street events, etc.)
REQUIRED TO RECYCLE
PRE-COLLECTION, SOURCE-SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS
corrugated cardboard
Keep separate from: 1) trash; 2) designated metal, glass, and plastic containers and aluminum foil products; 3) and designated construction waste
May be commingled with: bulk metal
bulk metal
Keep separate from: 1) trash and 2) construction waste
May be commingled either with: 1) corrugated cardboard OR 2) designated metal, glass, and plastic containers and aluminum foil products
metal cans, aluminum foil products, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs (includes materials generated from customers)
Keep separate from: 1) trash, 2) corrugated cardboard, and 3) construction waste
May be commingled with: other metal, glass, and plastic materials
Place out for collection in clear bags (unless collected in a vehicle compartment that only has other metal, glass and plastic materials).
construction waste excludes plaster, wall coverings, drywall, roofing shingles, wood and lumber, and glass window panes
May only be comminged with: other construction waste
Locations Partially Occupied with Food or Beverage Services
The following rules apply if only part of a location serves food or beverages (such as a cafeteria in an office building or a restaurant within a hotel):
Residential Generators of
Private Carter-Collected Waste
In general, all NYC residential buildings are entitled to Sanitation collection. Exceptions include: residential buildings where owners have chosen private carter service, the building is still under development and hasn't yet received a certificate of occupancy, or the area in which the building resides is undergoing zoning changes which have not been finalized.
Keep separate from: 1) trash; 2) designated metal, glass, and plastic containers and aluminum foil products; and 3) construction waste
May be commingled with: 1) corrugated cardboard, 2) textiles, and 3) bulk metal
bulk metal
Keep separate from: construction waste
May be commingled either with: 1) designated metal, glass, and plastic containers and aluminum foil products; and 2) designated paper materials OR 3) non-designated materials
metal cans, aluminum foil products, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs
Keep separate from: 1) trash, 2) designated paper materials, 3) textiles, and 4) construction waste
May be commingled with: other metal, glass, and plastic materials
Place out for collection in clear bags (unless collected in a vehicle compartment that only has other metal, glass and plastic materials)
construction waste excludes plaster, wall coverings, drywall, roofing shingles, wood and lumber, and glass window panes
May only be comminged with: other construction waste
food service establishments
Exceptions include: residential buildings where owners have chosen private carter service, the building is still under development and hasn't yet received a certificate of occupancy, or the area in which the building resides is undergoing zoning changes which have not been finalized. 
