Recycling

NYCHA’s recycling is collected by New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in the outdoor blue and green containers.

To allow for more space:

• Flatten cardboard boxes
• Crush aluminum cans
• Flatten empty plastic bottles and recap

For items that don’t fit in the blue and green bin, you can leave them neatly next to the bins for caretakers to collect and store until recycling collection day. Check out the full list of recyclable items to place in the blue and green bins here.

Did you know that 75% of the items we use every day can be recycled? Do you have a recycling storage system set up in your apartment?

• Empty and rinse: before storing, please empty and rinse all metal, glass, and plastic recyclables especially cartons containing food. This prevents odors, mold, and pests!
• Sort and store: consider using a paper bag to store your paper items and reusable shopping bag to store plastic containers. Additionally, small color-coded baskets/bins can be used for easy cleaning.

Think before you buy! Reducing the amount of waste we create in the first place is a great start. Look at the items you purchase and ask yourself:

• Is the packaging on this item recyclable?
• How long will this item last?
• Is there a better option that will last longer and save money in the long run?

Think about giving your items another life by allowing someone else to reuse them before tossing them. You could either donate or sell your items!

Donate – check out donateNYC to explore drop-off options for your donation items or check out these locations for clothing and textile drop-offs.

Sell – check out marketplaces on different social media platforms to buy, sell, or trade your gently used items.

Did you know that electronics have heavy metals in them which are bad for the environment when thrown out in the trash? DSNY makes it easy for you to dispose of electronics safely and legally. Learn more about their programs and convenient drop-off locations to get rid of your old laptop, television, cell phones, and more.

Please never dispose of electronics in the recycling.

The following sites are currently receiving E-Waste Recycling services: 

• Baisley 
• Berry 
• Drew Hamilton 
• Gompers 
• La Guardia 
• Marcy 
• Mariner’s Harbor 
• Mitchel 
• Morris 
• Morrisania Air Rights 
• Jackson 
• Polo Grounds Towers 
• Pomonok 
• Redfern 
• Richmond Terrace 
• Riis 
• South Beach 
• Stapleton 
• Straus 
• Sumner 
• Todt Hill 
• Unity Plaza 
• Webster

Recycling old clothes, shoes, accessories, bedding, towels, and more has never been easier in NYC! Find nearby bins here.

The following sites are currently receiving Textile Recycling services: 

• Polo Grounds Towers 
• Rangel Houses

NYCHA is paving the way for repurposing mattress components by providing a pickup service for discarded mattresses. If you leave out bagged mattresses or box springs for staff, they will place them in a special container to be recycled.

The following sites are currently receiving Mattress Recycling services:

One way for residents to put their food scraps and garden waste to good use instead of sending it to landfill is to drop it off for composting.

NYCHA currently has 11 developments with on-site processing! If you live at one of these NYCHA sites, you can drop off your food scraps for composting: 

• Astoria Houses Eco-Hub (Managed by Green City Force and Compost Power) 
• Castle Hill (Managed by NYBG Bronx Green-Up) 
• Forest Houses Eco-Hub (Managed by Green City Force and Compost Power) 
• Frederick Douglass Houses (Managed by Compost Power) 
• Howard Houses Eco-Hub (Managed by Green City Force and Compost Power) 
• Mariner’s Harbor Eco-Hub (Managed by Green City Force and Compost Power) 
• Patterson Houses (Managed by Compost Power) 
• Pink Houses Community Farm (Managed by NYCHA Resident Health Initiatives) 
• Polo Grounds Towers (Managed by Compost Power) 
• Red Hook West (Managed by Red Hook Initiative) 
• Wagner Houses Eco-Hub (Managed by Green City Force and Compost Power) 

Food scrap drop-off bins at “satellite sites” where collected materials get composted at another NYCHA development 

• Harlem River I & II (Drop off only, managed by Compost Power) 
• Mitchel Houses (Drop off only, managed by Compost Power) 
• Mott Haven (Drop off only, managed by Compost Power) 
• Rangel Houses (Drop off only, managed by Compost Power) 

Other on-site collection (not composted on site or at another NYCHA development) 

• Bronx River 
• Cassidy-Lafayette 
• Glenwood 
• Latimer Gardens 
• Lincoln 
• South Beach 
• Wyckoff Gardens   

Learn more about our partners: 

• Green City Force 
• Compost Power 
• NYBG Bronx Green-Up 
• Red Hook Initiative 

NYCHA residents can also drop off food scraps at New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) managed Smart Bins and community organization managed food scrap drop off sites.  

For more information about the DSNY Smart Bin Program, click here. 

For more information about nearby community food scrap drop-off sites, click here.