New York City Trash & Recycling Guide 2025

New York City's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) provides waste collection services to over 8.3 million residents across all 5 boroughs. Understanding your trash and recycling schedule, proper disposal methods, and specialized services can help you stay compliant with city regulations and avoid fines.

This comprehensive resident guide covers everything NYC residents need to know about trash collection, recycling, bulky item pickup, hazardous waste disposal, and e-waste recycling in 2025.

Finding Your NYC Trash & Recycling Schedule

Official DSNY Collection Schedule Finder

Every address in NYC has specific collection days for:

Refuse (trash) - Regular household garbage
Recycling (metal, glass, plastic, paper) - Blue bin collection
Organics (food scraps, yard waste) - Brown bin collection (expanding citywide)

How to Find Your Schedule:

🔗 Official Tool: DSNY Collection Schedule Finder

Simply enter your address to see:

Your specific collection days for each waste type
Upcoming holiday schedule changes
Special collection information for your area
Organics collection availability (if enrolled)

Alternative Methods:

Download the MyWaste NYC mobile app (iOS/Android)
Call 311 and provide your address
Check your landlord/building management notice board

Typical Collection Schedule

Most NYC residents follow this pattern:

Refuse: 2-3 times per week (varies by district)
Recycling: 1-2 times per week (alternating paper and metal/glass/plastic in some areas)
Organics: 1-2 times per week (if enrolled in program)

Set-Out Times:

Place waste curbside after 4:00 PM the night before
No earlier than 4:00 PM to avoid littering fines
Waste must be out by midnight before collection day

NYC Holiday Collection Schedule Changes

DSNY suspends collection on the following holidays:

No Collection Days (2025):

New Year's Day (January 1)
Memorial Day (May 26)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (September 1)
Thanksgiving Day (November 27)
Christmas Day (December 25)

What to Do on Holidays:

Collections are pushed back one day for the rest of the week
If your normal collection is Monday and Monday is a holiday, your pickup moves to Tuesday
Check the official holiday schedule: DSNY Holiday Schedule

Post-Holiday Delays:

Expect delays in the days following major holidays
Set waste out as usual - DSNY will collect it as soon as possible
Do not call 311 for delays within 48 hours of a holiday

Bulky Item & Large Item Pickup in NYC

How Bulky Item Collection Works

NYC residents can dispose of large items curbside on regular collection days - no appointment necessary (changed in 2020).

What You Can Set Out:

Furniture (couches, chairs, tables, dressers)
Mattresses and box springs (must be sealed in plastic bags per bedbug law)
Carpets and rugs (tied in 4-foot bundles)
Large appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, stoves)
Metal items (shelving, filing cabinets)
Large toys and sporting equipment

Limits:

Up to 6 items per collection day
Items must be placed separately from regular trash
Set out after 4:00 PM the night before regular collection
Must be accessible at curbside (not in buildings or driveways)

Mattress Disposal Requirements

NYC Bedbug Law: All mattresses and box springs must be sealed in plastic before curbside disposal.

Purchase mattress disposal bags from hardware stores ($5-15)
Fully encase mattress/box spring before setting out
Failure to seal = $100 fine
Applies to all 5 boroughs

Appliances with Refrigerants

Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers require Freon removal before DSNY collection.

Options:

DSNY will remove Freon - Call 311 to schedule appointment ($5-10 fee)
Private appliance removal - Hire junk removal service with certification
Retailer take-back - Some stores remove old appliances when delivering new ones

🔗 Schedule Freon Removal: Call 311 or use NYC 311 Online

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal

NYC residents can dispose of household hazardous waste at SAFE Disposal Events - free events held twice yearly in all 5 boroughs.

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Items that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive and cannot go in regular trash:

Common HHW Items:

Paints - Oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, paint thinners
Chemicals - Pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers
Automotive - Motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, car batteries
Household cleaners - Oven cleaner, drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner
Other - Propane tanks, mercury thermometers, fluorescent bulbs

Note: Latex/water-based paint is NOT hazardous - let it dry out and dispose in regular trash.

SAFE Disposal Events

When: Twice yearly - Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October)

Where: Rotating locations across all 5 boroughs

What to Bring:

Valid NYC ID or proof of residency (utility bill, lease)
HHW items in original containers when possible
Maximum 15 gallons or 125 pounds per household per event

What You CANNOT Bring:

Commercial/business waste (even small amounts)
Asbestos or medical waste
Explosives or ammunition
Radioactive materials
Pressurized gas cylinders larger than 1 pound

🔗 Find SAFE Events: DSNY SAFE Disposal Events

Between Events: Some pharmacies and retailers offer year-round take-back for specific items like batteries and fluorescent bulbs. Check Earth911.com for drop-off locations.

E-Waste Disposal in NYC

New York State banned electronics from trash in 2015. Disposing of electronics in regular trash can result in a $100 fine.

What is E-Waste (Electronic Waste)?

Banned from trash:

Computers (desktops, laptops, tablets)
Monitors and TVs (all types)
Printers, scanners, fax machines
Cell phones and smartphones
Keyboards, mice, cables
Video game consoles
DVD/Blu-ray players
Stereo equipment

Year-Round E-Waste Drop-Off Locations

NYC has permanent e-waste collection sites across all 5 boroughs:

Drop-Off Sites (over 90 locations citywide):

Lower East Side Ecology Center locations
DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Sites
GrowNYC Greenmarket locations
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) facilities

Hours: Vary by location - most are weekends only

Cost: FREE for NYC residents

🔗 Find E-Waste Drop-Off: NYC E-Waste Locator

E-Waste Collection Events

DSNY also holds special e-waste collection events throughout the year - check the DSNY website for upcoming events in your borough.

Manufacturer Take-Back Programs: Many electronics manufacturers offer mail-back or drop-off programs. Check with:

Apple Store locations
Best Buy (accepts most electronics for free)
Staples (small electronics)
Sprint/Verizon (cell phones)

What NOT to Put in Your NYC Bins

Putting prohibited items in your trash or recycling can result in fines up to $100 and contamination of recycling streams.

NEVER Put These in Regular Trash:

❌ Batteries (all types)

Lithium, alkaline, rechargeable, car batteries
Drop off at SAFE events or battery recycling locations
Call2Recycle locations: Call2Recycle Locator

❌ Electronics (covered by e-waste ban)

$100 fine for disposing in trash
Use e-waste drop-off sites

❌ Paint & Chemicals (household hazardous waste)

Oil-based paints, solvents, pesticides
Attend SAFE disposal events

❌ Automotive Fluids

Motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid
Drop at auto parts stores or SAFE events

❌ Propane Tanks

Even if empty - risk of explosion
Hardware stores or SAFE events

❌ Medical Sharps (needles, syringes, lancets)

Use sharps disposal containers
Drop at pharmacies or NYC Health Dept locations
NYC Sharps Disposal Locations

❌ Prescription Medications

NYPD drop boxes or pharmacy take-back
NYC Med Drop Locations

Not Accepted in Recycling Bins:

❌ Plastic bags and film (return to grocery stores) ❌ Styrofoam/polystyrene (not recyclable in NYC) ❌ Food-contaminated paper (pizza boxes with grease) ❌ Shredded paper (too small to sort) ❌ Glass cookware, mirrors, windows (not container glass)

Quick NYC Waste Disposal Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure proper waste disposal:

Regular Trash (Black Bags/Bins)

✅ Non-recyclable household waste ✅ Food waste (if not in organics program) ✅ Plastic bags and film ✅ Styrofoam packaging ✅ Diapers and hygiene products ✅ Dried latex paint (in original can)

Recycling (Blue Bin)

✅ Metal, glass, plastic containers (rinsed) ✅ Paper, cardboard, newspaper ✅ Cartons (milk, juice, broth) ✅ Aluminum and tin cans ✅ Plastic bottles and jugs (#1-7)

Organics (Brown Bin) - If Enrolled

✅ Food scraps (all types) ✅ Yard waste (leaves, branches) ✅ Compostable paper products ✅ Coffee grounds and filters

Bulky Items (Curbside - Up to 6)

✅ Furniture and mattresses (sealed) ✅ Appliances (Freon removed if needed) ✅ Carpets (bundled) ✅ Large metal items

Special Disposal Required

🔸 E-waste → Drop-off sites 🔸 Batteries → Call2Recycle locations 🔸 HHW (paint, chemicals) → SAFE events 🔸 Sharps → Pharmacy drop boxes 🔸 Medications → NYPD/pharmacy drop boxes

NYC Waste Disposal Table

| Item Type | How to Dispose | Notes | |-----------|---------------|-------| | Regular Trash | Black bags curbside | Set out after 4 PM night before | | Recycling | Blue bin curbside | Metal/glass/plastic + paper | | Organics | Brown bin curbside | If enrolled in program | | Bulky Items | Curbside (no appointment) | Max 6 items per collection day | | Mattresses | Curbside sealed in plastic | Bedbug law - must seal | | Appliances w/ Freon | Call 311 for removal | $5-10 fee for Freon extraction | | E-Waste | Drop-off sites | Banned from trash - $100 fine | | Batteries | Call2Recycle locations | All types - never trash | | Paint & Chemicals | SAFE disposal events | 2x/year, all 5 boroughs | | Sharps/Needles | Pharmacy drop boxes | In sealed sharps container | | Medications | NYPD/pharmacy drop boxes | Do not flush or trash | | Propane Tanks | Hardware stores/SAFE | Even empty - explosion risk |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I find my NYC trash collection schedule?

Use the official DSNY Collection Schedule Finder or download the MyWaste NYC app. Enter your address to see your specific collection days for trash, recycling, and organics (if available).

2. Do I need to schedule an appointment for bulky item pickup in NYC?

No. Since 2020, NYC residents can set out up to 6 bulky items on their regular trash collection day without scheduling an appointment. Set items at curbside after 4 PM the night before collection.

3. Where can I dispose of electronics in NYC?

Electronics are banned from NYC trash (NYS law). Drop off e-waste for free at over 90 permanent collection sites across the city. Find locations at NYC E-Waste Locator. Disposing electronics in trash = $100 fine.

4. When are the NYC SAFE disposal events for hazardous waste?

DSNY holds SAFE (Special Waste) disposal events twice yearly - typically in Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) in all 5 boroughs. Check the DSNY SAFE Events page for upcoming dates and locations.

5. What items are NOT allowed in NYC trash or recycling bins?

Never put in trash: Batteries (all types), electronics (e-waste ban), paint/chemicals (HHW), automotive fluids, propane tanks, medical sharps, or prescription medications. These items require special disposal at drop-off sites, SAFE events, or pharmacy/NYPD drop boxes.

Official NYC Waste Disposal Resources

📍 DSNY Collection Schedule: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/collectionschedule

📱 MyWaste NYC App: Download on iOS or Android

🗓️ Holiday Schedule: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/holiday-schedule.page

🛋️ Bulky Item Info: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/large-items.page

☠️ SAFE Disposal Events: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/recycling/safe-disposal-events.page

💻 E-Waste Drop-Off: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/recycling/electronics.page

🔋 Battery Recycling: https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/

💉 Sharps Disposal: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/safe-sharps-disposal.page

💊 Medication Disposal: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/safe-medication-disposal.page

☎️ NYC 311: Call 311 or visit https://portal.311.nyc.gov/ for all DSNY questions

About This Guide: This NYC resident waste guide is updated for 2025 based on current DSNY policies and NYC regulations. Policies may change - always verify current information on official DSNY and NYC.gov websites.

Last Updated: January 2025 Sources: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), NYC.gov official resources, NYS DEC electronics ban regulations, NYC Health Department disposal guidelines.