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Hiring a Private Carter

All entities that produce commercial waste will need to comply with the Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) Program by their zone's final implementation date. Learn more about what you need to do and follow a step-by-step process, including how to find your zone, and when and how to sign with a CWZ-authorized carter.

Talk to your licensed private carter to develop a plan for how waste will be collected and set out for your building.

If your building management handles your waste, work with them to be sure your business complies with their waste management plan and NYC's recycling rules.

Waste management plans should comply with one of the following types of recycling collection:

  • Source-separated collection
  • Co-collection
  • Single-stream collection

If your business prefers to transport its own recyclables, registration must be first obtained from the NYC Business Integrity Commission (BIC).

Property owners and building management must notify tenants, at least annually, about the recycling and waste management policies of the building. Policies must be compliant with NYC rules and a copy of the notification must be available upon request by DSNY.

Pricing Guidelines and Competitive Rates

Private carters can bill customers based on volume or weight, or they charge a flat fee. Their invoices must include an itemized list of charges.

Maximum Rates

Right now, the maximum rate carters may charge is determined by location:

Getting quotes from multiple carters is highly recommended and may save on costs.

Sharing Services

In some cases, neighboring businesses can share collection service to reduce costs. A merchant who disposes of a smaller amount of waste (less than 20 gallons over seven consecutive days) can share private carter service with an adjacent store.

Both businesses sharing private carter services must be offered written documentation by the private carter and given a free decal.

Private Carter Decals

Businesses must post and maintain official decals for all of their carters. Decals should be posted on the window of your business or somewhere visible from the street and must include:

  • Carter's contact information (name, address, phone number)
  • Carter's license
  • Description of material being collected and service type (eg: trash collection; source-separated recycling; co-collection; or single-stream recycling collection)
  • Collection days and times

Businesses must also keep a copy of their contract or receipt readily available.

Once your business's zone is implemented, DSNY decals will replace BIC decals.

Merchants that transport their trash or recyclable materials themselves must post their Self-Hauler decal with their BIC registration number.

For multi-tenant buildings, property management should maintain a list of all tenants that share private carter service as part of the same agreement. Ground-floor retail businesses must also post and maintain a separate decal.

NOTE: A merchant who disposes of a small amount of trash or recyclable materials (less than 20 gallons over seven consecutive days) can share private carter service with one or more other merchants. Merchants sharing private carter services must be offered a written documentation by the private carter and given a free decal. For merchants sharing private carter service, the private carter should agree on a point of collection which should be at one of the merchant's establishments, and within walking distance of the other merchant's establishment. Under no circumstances can a merchant dispose of any trash or recyclable materials in a public DSNY litter basket or set out their waste with a business that receives collection service from DSNY

Private Carter Registration

All private carters must be licensed by BIC. Only carters authorized by DSNY may service businesses in an implemented Commercial Waste Zone.

Private carters are responsible for placing waste containers inside or to the rear of the customer's premises after they have been emptied. They are also responsible for removing any spillage that occurs during collection. However, business are ultimately responsibility for keeping their areas clean and containers stored. For more information about carter responsibilities, or to file a complaint, contact BIC, 311, or DSNY's Bureau of Commercial Waste.

Self Haulers

To transport commercial waste as an individual merchant, your business must:

  • Obtain a "Self-Hauler" registration from BIC
  • Transport waste using a vehicle with commercial license plates
  • Arrange to dump at a permitted private transfer station
  • Transport all waste requiring source-separation separately at all times  

It is unlawful for any person to remove, collect or dispose of trade waste generated in the course of a person's or firm's business without first having registered with the BIC.

Fines:

  • Up to $10,000