What to Recycle in the Blue and Green Bins?
NYCHA’s recycling is collected by New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in the outdoor blue and green containers.
To allow for more space:
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.
How to Sort and Store Recycling in Your Home
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?
How to Reduce Your Waste
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:
How to Reuse Unwanted Items
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.
How to recycle electronics – eCycleNYC
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.
How to recycle textiles – refashionNYC
Recycling old clothes, shoes, accessories, bedding, towels, and more has never been easier in NYC! Find nearby textile drop-off locations here.
How to recycle mattresses and box springs
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:
How to recycle organics
Drop-off composting is one way residents can reduce their food and garden waste and put it to good use, instead of being sent to a landfill.
The compost drop-offs above are located at farm sites unless listed as “Compost Only.” Pink Houses’ farm is managed by United Community Centers . Red Hook West is managed by the Red Hook Initiative. All other farms and compost systems are managed by Green City Force and Compost Power.
Click here for FAQs about NYCHA sites participating in DSNY’s brown bin and Smart Bin programs.
After NYCHA’s recycling from the blue and green bins are collected by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), they bring the recyclables to a facility that uses machines and people power to sort and bale the recyclables.
Play the video below to learn more about what happens to your recycling!