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NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10032  
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RECYCLING - OUR JOINT RESPONSIBILITY


All residents of 515 Edgecombe avenue cooperation are required by law to recycle their waste in accordance with New York City Guidelines.

These guidelines have been posted on the main notice board in the building's Lobby. Appropriate recycling bins are available in the designated area on the building premises.

Every building in New York City is required by law to recycle. The Solid Waste Management Act of 1988 requires comprehensive recycling in New York State. New York City benefits not only environmentally, but also economically from recycling. New Yorkers must not lose the benefits of recycling by letting up on prudent waste management practices. According to New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, “Recycling is unquestionably one of the most important efforts we make to conserve natural resources and reduce our dependence on landfills and incinerators - recycling makes enormous economic and environmental sense and I am fully committed to expanding and enforcing recycling laws so that we can realize their full benefits.”

The information below provides guidelines on what and how to recycle: For further information please visit the New York City website.


What and How to Recycle:
PAPER & CARDBOARD

green recycling bin with clear bag

trash can

YES - PLACE IN RECYCLING

NO - PLACE IN TRASH

  • white, colored, and glossy paper (staples OK; no spiral bindings)
  • mail and envelopes
  • wrapping paper (remove ribbon and tape)
  • smooth cardboard (food boxes — remove inside & outside plastic wrappers — shoe boxes, tubes from paper towel and toilet paper rolls, cardboard from product packaging)
  • paper bags
  • paper/cardboard egg cartons and trays
  • newspapers, magazines, and catalogs
  • phone books, soft cover books (paperbacks, comic books, etc.)
  • corrugated cardboard (flattened boxes)

 

  • hardcover books
  • napkins, paper towels, or tissues
  • soiled paper cups or plates
  • paper heavily soiled with food or liquid
  • paper with a lot of tape and glue
  • plastic- or wax-coated paper (candy wrappers, take-out containers, etc.)

 


Place mixed paper materials together in a labeled bin (preferably green), clear bag, or labeled dumpster. Flatten and bundle large pieces of corrugated cardboard and tie with sturdy twine, or place loose in your dumpster.

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What and How to Recycle:
BEVERAGE CARTONS, BOTTLES, CANS, METAL & FOIL

blue recycling bin with clear bag

trash can

YES - PLACE IN RECYCLING

NO - PLACE IN TRASH

  • metal cans (such as tuna, empty aerosol cans, empty and dried-out paint cans with lids removed)
  • aluminum foil wrap & trays
  • household metal (such as wire hangers, pots, and pans)
  • bulk metal (such as metal furniture, cabinets, and appliances)
  • glass bottles & jars
  • plastic bottles & jugs
  • beverage cartons & drink boxes (milk & juice)
 
  • any glass items other than glass bottles & jars (such as mirrors, light bulbs, ceramics, and glassware)
  • any plastic items other than plastic bottles & jugs (such as deli and yogurt containers; plastic toys, cups, bags, and wrap)
  • styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, trays, etc.)
  • batteries 

 

Empty and rinse containers before recycling. Place together in CLEAR bags or blue labeled bin.

Place bulk metal next to recycling bins or bags.

Call 311 before discarding appliances that contain CFC gas.

5¢ deposit: Bring deposit bottles and cans back to the store for refunds.

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What and How to Recycle:
BULKY TRASH

YES - PLACE WITH  RECYCLING

NO - PLACE WITH TRASH

Furniture and appliances that are predominantly metal* and are too big for your recycling container or clear bag — such as washing machines, metal filing cabinets, box springs, or water heaters — should be placed beside the container on your regular Recycling Day.

 

Non-recyclable trash that is too big for your container or bag — such as mattresses, lumber, TVs, or debris from small construction or garden projects — should be placed at the curb on your regular garbage collection day (except during weeks with holidays or snow days). The Department of Sanitation will collect up to six bulk items from one address. For more information, see bulk collection on the DSNY website.

illustration: refrigerator*Appliances with CFC Gas

Before discarding appliances containing CFC gas, or freon — such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, or dehumidifiers — you must schedule an appointment to place the item at the curb for CFC recovery. You can make an appointment on the Sanitation website or call 311. For safety reasons, the law requires doors to be removed from refrigerators and freezers before placing at the curb.

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Missed Collections

 

To report missed collections, call 311, or complete the Missed Collection form on the Sanitation website.


basement recycling areaMulti-Unit and Apartment Buildings

Residential building owners/landlords must notify tenants about recycling requirements, designate an accessible recycling area, and maintain signs explaining what and how to recycle. The Department of Sanitation recommends that landlords provide new tenants with recycling information with their lease, and remind tenants about their recycling responsibilities with lease renewals.


All tenants
are required to keep recyclables separate from regular garbage and recycle according to their building management instructions in properly colored and labeled receptacles.


To report recycling violations,
call 311 or visit the appropriate pages on the Sanitation website: apartment owner/manager recycling violations or apartment tenant recycling violations.

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Recycling Violations

Recycling violations carry fines of $25 (first Notice), $50 (second Notice), $100 (third Notice), and $500 (four or more Notices within a six-month period).

recycling violationsBuildings with ten or more apartments that receive four or more Notices of Violation within a six-month period will be fined $500 for each bag that violates recycling regulations, up to a maximum of 20 bags within a 24-hour period. This translates to a maximum fine of $10,000 per day.

APARTMENT BUILDINGS: Owners/Landlords
APARTMENT BUILDINGS: Tenants
arrowWhat to do if you get a ticket

APARTMENT BUILDINGS (3 or more units): Owners/Landlords

The following infractions could result in a Notice of Violation being issued against building owners/landlords of multi-unit buildings:

  • Failure to post signs with specific recycling instructions for the building.
  • Failure to have and maintain a tenant-accessible Recycling Area.
  • Failure to remove garbage and non-recyclables from designated recycling containers.
  • Failure to flatten and tie corrugated cardboard boxes (unless broken down into small pieces and placed in a bag, container, or dumpster).
  • Failure to tie newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books into bundles no more than eighteen (18") inches high (if not placed in a bag or container).
  • Placing mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and phone books in any bag other than a 13-55 gallon clear plastic bag.
  • Placing beverage cartons, bottles, cans, or foil in regular garbage.
  • Using recycling containers or blue recycling bags for regular garbage.
  • Using an improper recycling container or failing to provide appropriate containers.
  • Placing separated recyclables out for collection in regular garbage containers.

APARTMENT BUILDINGS (3 or more units): Tenants

The following infractions could result in a Notice of Violation for tenants of multi-unit buildings:

  • Failure to separate recyclables from regular garbage and place them in the proper containers provided by building management.
  • Placing regular garbage in designated recycling containers.
  • Failure to rinse beverage cartons, bottles, cans, and foil clean of food and residue.

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illustration: special waste siteBatteries, Auto Fluids, and Other Special Waste

The NYC Department of Sanitation operates Self Help Special Waste Drop-Off Sites in every borough for the collection and recycling of automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury-filled thermostats and thermometers, paint, and tires.

Do not place these materials in your recycling bin. Use the links below for waste prevention tips and how to properly dispose of these items:

batteries: automotive
batteries: household
fluorescent bulbs
motor oil
paint
tires

ALSO SEE reducing toxics at home and recyclers and vendors for less toxic alternatives.


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illustration: computer Computers, Toner Cartridges, and Other Materials

ALSO SEE electronics recycling.


For items not listed here, try the "How do I dispose of..." feature on the Sanitation website.


Go to recyclers and vendors to find recyclers for bulk quantities of items NOT collected for recycling by the NY Department of Sanitation, including toner cartridges, cell phones, computers, and CDs.


Visit new homes for old stuff to find places to donate, sell, or buy second-hand goods.

 

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Recycling Symbol

recycling symbolMany residents are confused about what to recycle because so many products display the universal recycling symbol. However, only items that have a viable resale market are accepted by New York City's Recycling Program. While many other items carry the recycling symbol and are in theory recyclable, they do not necessarily have extensive resale markets.


The only plastics accepted for recycling in New York City are bottles & jugs (with necks smaller than their bodies) that are stamped on the bottom with 1 & 2 codes. All other plastic containers and all other plastic items should be placed in the regular trash — even if they are labeled PETE or HDPE.


Refer to the lists above to decide what to put into recycling containers. Do not place items in your recycling containers just because the package contains a recycling symbol or other recycling information. When in doubt, leave it out.


For more information, see Can I recycle other plastics besides #1 & #2 bottles & jugs? in FAQs.

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Helpful Hints

  • Keep containers for collecting mixed paper in your main work areas, such as where you sort your mail and discard kitchen items. Devise your own system to make it easy for you.
  • If you are concerned about the confidentiality of your mail, remove address labels and tear up mail.
  • After shopping, remove and recycle paper packaging.
  • Leave labels on cans and jars. Discard nonmetal caps and lids; recycle all metal.
  • Avoid pests and odors by rinsing recyclables before storing them.
  • Save space by flattening beverage cartons and plastic bottles (it won't affect recyclability).
  • Recycle aluminum foil used for wrapping, not cooking (unless food and grease washes off easily).

For additional links on recycling, go to recycling resources

 
 

 

What to recycle: mandated materials
paper and cardboard
beverage cartons, bottles, cans, metal & foil
bulky metal and appliances with CFC gas

Collection and ticket information
missed collections
multi-unit and apartment buildings
recycling violations
what to do if you get a ticket

Other (non-mandated) materials
batteries, auto fluids, and other special waste
computers, toner cartridges, and other materials

Recycling tips
recycling symbol
helpful hints
for more information