New York State Waste Management Guide 2025

New York State, home to over 19.8 million residents, generates approximately 42.2 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. From the dense urban environment of New York City to the rural communities of upstate, the state faces diverse waste management challenges and has established ambitious goals to reduce landfill reliance and increase recycling.

This comprehensive guide covers New York State's waste management landscape, including DEC regulations, recycling goals, food waste laws, disposal costs, and regional variations across the state in 2025.

New York State Waste Management: Overview

Waste Generation Statistics

New York's waste generation reflects its diverse geography and population density:

Total Waste (2018 Data - Most Recent Complete Analysis):

42.2 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated annually
Approximately 2.13 tons per capita (4,260 lbs per person)
43% recycling rate (18.2 million tons recycled)
32% landfilled in-state (13.5 million tons)
8% incinerated in-state (3.4 million tons)
17% exported out-of-state (7.1 million tons)

Landfill Intake (2018):

12.5 million tons received at New York landfills
75% to MSW landfills (municipal solid waste)
25% to C&D landfills (construction & demolition debris)

New York City vs. Rest of State:

NYC metro: ~8.3 million residents, ~10-12 million tons waste/year
Upstate/Rest of State: ~11.5 million residents, ~30-32 million tons waste/year

New York's Waste Management Industry

The waste management sector in New York is highly competitive, with major national players and regional operators:

Major Providers:

Waste Management, Inc. - Operates landfills, transfer stations, and collection services statewide
Republic Services - Significant presence in upstate NY
Casella Waste Systems - Major northeast regional player (Vermont-based, strong in NY)
Covanta - Operates waste-to-energy facilities
County Waste - Regional provider across upstate NY

Infrastructure:

27 active MSW landfills (2024)
100+ transfer stations across the state
Multiple waste-to-energy facilities (including Covanta facilities)
200+ recycling facilities (MRFs, processors, specialized facilities)

NYS DEC: Regulatory Authority

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

The NYS DEC Division of Materials Management regulates solid waste, hazardous waste, and recycling programs under Part 360 of Title 6 NYCRR (New York Codes, Rules and Regulations).

DEC Responsibilities:

Permitting and oversight of landfills, transfer stations, and processing facilities
Enforcing waste management regulations (Part 360, 6 NYCRR)
Developing statewide solid waste management plans
Administering recycling and organics diversion programs
Overseeing remediation of contaminated sites
Collecting annual facility reports

The 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan (2023)

In December 2023, NYS DEC released the New York State Solid Waste Management Plan, a comprehensive 10-year roadmap for waste reduction, recycling, and climate action.

Plan Goals:

85% total waste stream recycling rate by 2050
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste sector
Expand organics recycling infrastructure statewide
Implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs
Increase reuse and repair initiatives

Key Strategies:

Disposal Disincentive Surcharge: Proposed $5/ton surcharge to generate $133M/year for municipal waste programs
Food Waste Diversion: Expand food donation and scraps recycling requirements
EPR Legislation: Producer responsibility for packaging, mattresses, carpet, paint
Reuse Economy: Support repair cafes, tool libraries, material reuse centers
Infrastructure Investment: Grants for organics facilities, MRF upgrades, collection improvements

Part 360 Regulations (6 NYCRR)

Part 360 governs solid waste management facilities in New York:

Subpart 360-1 - General provisions, definitions, applicability Subpart 360-2 - Recyclables handling and recovery facilities Subpart 360-3 - Composting facilities Subpart 360-4 - Land application of compost Subpart 360-11 - Landfills (design, operation, closure) Subpart 360-12 - Transfer stations Subpart 360-13 - Construction and demolition debris processing facilities Subpart 360-14 - Combustion and incineration facilities Subpart 360-16 - Beneficial use determinations (BUDs)

Recent Revisions (2022-2024):

Expanded beneficial use determinations for materials diversion
Updated composting facility standards
Enhanced landfill monitoring and reporting requirements
New requirements for food scraps management

New York's Recycling Goals & Current Performance

Current Recycling Rate

2018 Baseline (most recent comprehensive data):

43% statewide recycling rate (18.2M tons of 42.2M total)
Includes traditional recycling + composting + beneficial use

Components of 43% Rate:

Traditional recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass)
Organics (yard waste, food scraps, biosolids)
Construction & demolition debris recycling
Industrial/commercial material recovery
Beneficial use materials (e.g., concrete aggregate)

2050 Goal: 85% Recycling Rate

New York's ambitious 85% by 2050 goal requires:

42-point increase from current 43% baseline
Average 1.6% annual increase over 26 years (2024-2050)
Major infrastructure investment and behavioral change

Path to 85%:

Organics diversion (food waste + yard waste): Target 15-20% of waste stream
Increased traditional recycling: Improve capture rates for paper, plastics, metals
C&D debris recycling: 70-80% diversion rates for construction waste
EPR programs: Producer responsibility driving packaging reduction/recyclability
Reuse initiatives: Repair, refurbishment, donation programs

Regional Variation

Recycling rates vary significantly across New York:

High-Performing Regions:

Capital District (Albany area): 50-55%
Tompkins County (Ithaca): 60%+ (highest in state)
Westchester County: 48-52%

Medium-Performing:

Monroe County (Rochester): 40-45%
Erie County (Buffalo): 38-42%
Onondaga County (Syracuse): 40-44%

Lower-Performing:

New York City: 18-20% (residential) due to density, multi-family housing challenges
Rural counties: 30-35% (limited infrastructure, transportation costs)

New York Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law

Mandatory Food Waste Law (Effective January 1, 2022)

New York enacted one of the nation's strongest food waste laws, requiring large generators to donate edible food and recycle food scraps.

Who Must Comply:

Businesses and institutions generating 2+ tons of food waste per week (annual average) AND located within 25 miles of an organics recycler must:

Donate excess edible food to food rescue organizations
Recycle all remaining food scraps at permitted organics facility

Covered Entities:

Large grocery stores and supermarkets
Hotels, restaurants, catering companies
Food manufacturers and processors
Hospitals and healthcare facilities
Colleges and universities
Correctional facilities
Corporate cafeterias

Exemptions:

Small generators (<2 tons/week average)
Entities >25 miles from organics recycler
Temporary hardship exemptions (economic, operational)

Impact and Success (2022-2025)

Results to Date (as of August 2025):

63 million pounds of food donated to food rescue organizations
Hundreds of thousands of tons of food scraps diverted from landfills
Expanded organics infrastructure: 50+ new/expanded composting/AD facilities
$2 million+ in DEC grants for organics processing capacity

Food Rescue Organizations:

City Harvest (NYC)
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
FeedMore Western New York
Food Bank of Central New York

New York Waste Disposal Costs & Tipping Fees

Landfill Tipping Fees by Region

New York landfill tipping fees vary dramatically between downstate/NYC metro and upstate regions:

Downstate/NYC Metro (Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk):

$90-$150 per ton (among highest in nation)
Limited capacity, high land costs, proximity to NYC
Transfer station fees: $70-$100/ton before transport to distant landfills

Capital District (Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga):

$55-$75 per ton
Mid-range costs reflecting moderate capacity

Central New York (Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton):

$50-$70 per ton
More available capacity, lower costs

Western New York (Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara):

$45-$65 per ton
Moderate costs, regional competition

North Country (Watertown, Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg):

$40-$60 per ton
Rural areas, more available capacity
Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) facilities

Upstate Rural Counties:

$35-$55 per ton
Lowest costs in state

Sullivan County Example (2025):

$150 per ton effective 2025 (increased from $120 in 2024)
Interim $136.50/ton for MSW (Jan-Jun 2025)
Reflects capacity constraints and operating costs

Proposed $5/ton State Surcharge: NYS DEC 10-year plan proposes $5/ton disposal surcharge to fund municipal waste reduction programs (would generate $133M/year). Not yet enacted as of 2025.

NYC Private Carter Maximum Rates

New York City regulates private waste carter rates through the Business Integrity Commission (BIC):

Effective August 31, 2024:

$26.87 per cubic yard of loose refuse (maximum allowed)
Rates for commercial waste collection in NYC
Subject to annual adjustments

Residential Waste Collection Costs

Residential waste costs vary by municipality:

New York City:

Included in property taxes (no separate fee for residents)
DSNY provides free curbside trash, recycling, organics (expanding)
NYC Budget: ~$2.3 billion/year for DSNY operations

Major Upstate Cities:

Buffalo: $250-$320/year (quarterly billing)
Rochester: $180-$240/year residential fee
Albany: $200-$280/year depending on service level
Syracuse: $150-$220/year

Suburban/Rural:

Private hauler contracts: $20-$45/month ($240-$540/year)
Varies by service frequency, container size, location

Commercial Waste Collection Costs

Front-Load Dumpster Service (Upstate):

2-yard: $180-$320/month (2x weekly)
4-yard: $280-$480/month (3x weekly)
6-yard: $380-$650/month (5x weekly)
8-yard: $520-$850/month (daily service)

NYC Metro Prices (20-30% higher):

2-yard: $220-$400/month
4-yard: $350-$600/month
6-yard: $480-$800/month
8-yard: $650-$1,100/month

Roll-Off Dumpster Rental:

10-yard: $350-$500/week
20-yard: $425-$625/week
30-yard: $500-$750/week
40-yard: $575-$900/week

Prices significantly higher in NYC metro area.

Electronics Waste (E-Waste) Ban

New York Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act

New York State banned e-waste from landfills and incinerators effective January 1, 2015.

Banned Items (Cannot Go in Trash):

Desktop computers, laptops, tablets
Computer monitors and TVs (all types)
Keyboards, mice, printers, scanners
E-readers, portable DVD players
Video game consoles
Cable/satellite boxes
Small servers

Manufacturer Take-Back Requirement:

Electronics manufacturers must provide free take-back for covered devices
Consumers can return devices to manufacturer collection sites
Retailers often provide collection as well

Penalties:

Landfills/incinerators face fines for accepting e-waste
Businesses can be fined for improper e-waste disposal
Municipal enforcement varies

Collection Options:

Manufacturer mail-back programs
Retailer drop-off (Best Buy, Staples, etc.)
County e-waste collection events
Municipal drop-off centers (permanent or periodic)
NYC: DSNY e-waste drop-off sites (90+ locations)

Bottle Bill (Container Deposit Law)

New York Returnable Container Act

New York's Bottle Bill, enacted in 1983 and expanded in 2009, requires 5-cent deposits on beverage containers.

Covered Beverages:

Carbonated soft drinks (original 1983 law)
Beer and malt beverages (original 1983 law)
Water (added 2009)
Wine coolers and ciders (added 2009)

NOT Covered:

Milk and dairy products
Wine and liquor
Pure juice
Coffee and tea

How It Works:

Consumer pays 5-cent deposit per container at purchase
Return to retailer or redemption center for refund
80% return rate statewide (one of highest in nation)
Unclaimed deposits: 80% to State General Fund, 20% to Environmental Protection Fund

2024-2025 Expansion Discussions:

Potential expansion to wine, liquor, and more beverage types
Possible deposit increase to 10 cents (to match Michigan, Oregon)
Not yet enacted as of January 2025

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in New York

Current EPR Programs

1. Paint EPR (PaintCare)

Manufacturer-funded paint collection and recycling
Drop-off sites at paint retailers statewide
Funded by small fee on new paint sales

2. Electronics EPR

Manufacturer take-back requirement (see E-Waste section)
Free collection for consumers

3. Batteries (Proposed)

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act (pending legislation)
Would require retailer take-back and manufacturer funding

Proposed EPR Legislation

New York is considering comprehensive EPR laws for:

Packaging EPR:

Shift responsibility for packaging recycling to producers
Producer funding for collection and processing infrastructure
Similar to laws in Oregon, Colorado, Maine, California

Mattress EPR:

Industry stewardship program for mattress collection/recycling
Similar to programs in CA, CT, RI

Carpet EPR:

Take-back and recycling program funded by industry
Currently voluntary (Carpet America Recovery Effort)

Status: As of January 2025, comprehensive packaging EPR has not been enacted but remains under active consideration in state legislature.

Regional Waste Management: NYC vs. Upstate

New York City (DSNY)

NYC Unique Characteristics:

8.3 million residents in 300 square miles
Highest density in U.S. creates unique challenges
12,000+ tons of waste daily (residential + commercial)
No landfills in NYC - all waste exported

DSNY Services:

Residential trash: 2-3x weekly curbside
Recycling: Weekly curbside (metal/glass/plastic + paper)
Organics: Expanding borough-by-borough (brown bin)
Bulky items: Curbside (up to 6 items, no appointment)
E-waste: 90+ drop-off locations year-round
SAFE disposal events: Household hazardous waste (2x/year)

NYC Challenges:

18-20% recycling rate (far below state average)
Multi-family housing contamination issues
Limited space for processing infrastructure
High export costs ($90-$150/ton)

Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ):

NYC implementing commercial waste zone system
Exclusive zones awarded to haulers via RFP
Goals: Reduce truck traffic, improve recycling, increase accountability
Phased rollout 2024-2025

Upstate New York

Characteristics:

11.5 million residents across vast geography
Mix of mid-size cities, suburbs, and rural areas
Local control: Counties/municipalities manage own programs
Greater landfill capacity, lower tipping fees

Service Delivery:

Municipal curbside collection (cities and some towns)
Private hauler contracts (most suburbs and rural)
County-operated drop-off centers
Regional cooperation and shared facilities

Top-Performing Upstate Counties:

Tompkins County (Ithaca):

60%+ recycling rate (highest in NYS)
Pay-as-you-throw program (trash by the bag)
Comprehensive organics collection
Robust reuse center and swap shops

Monroe County (Rochester):

40-45% recycling rate
Single-stream recycling countywide
Eco Park drop-off facility
Food scraps drop-off program

Onondaga County (Syracuse):

40-44% recycling rate
Waste-to-energy facility (Covanta)
Regional MRF and organics facilities

New York Waste Management Challenges

1. Achieving 85% by 2050

The 42-percentage-point gap between current 43% and goal of 85% is massive:

Required Actions:

Organics infrastructure: Need 100+ new composting/AD facilities
Packaging reduction: EPR laws to reduce waste at source
Behavioral change: Education, incentives, enforcement
Funding: Estimated $500M-$1B investment needed
Policy: Disposal surcharges, disposal bans, mandates

2. NYC's Low Recycling Rate

New York City's 18-20% residential recycling rate drags down state average:

Contributing Factors:

Multi-family housing (60%+ of NYC residents) - contamination, limited space
High density makes source separation difficult
Language barriers and transient populations
Limited enforcement of recycling rules
Space constraints for processing facilities

NYC Strategies:

Organics expansion (compost brown bins)
Improved education and outreach
Building-specific recycling requirements
Commercial waste zones for better tracking

3. Food Waste Infrastructure Gaps

Despite strong food waste law, infrastructure gaps remain:

Challenges:

25-mile radius leaves many areas uncovered (especially rural)
Insufficient organics processing capacity statewide
High costs of composting and anaerobic digestion facilities
Markets for finished compost need development
Contamination issues (plastics, non-organics)

Solutions:

DEC grants for facility development ($2M+ awarded)
Regional cooperation for shared facilities
Farm-based composting expansion
Anaerobic digestion for food waste-to-energy

4. Export Dependency

17% of NYS waste exported out-of-state (primarily NYC waste):

Destinations:

Pennsylvania (largest recipient)
Ohio
New Jersey
Virginia

Concerns:

High transportation costs and emissions
Dependence on out-of-state capacity
Long-term sustainability questions

New York's Waste Management Future

Organics Expansion

Goals:

Organics collection available to 90%+ of residents by 2030
50+ new composting and anaerobic digestion facilities by 2035
Food waste diversion: 1-2 million tons/year by 2030

Investment Needed: $200-$400 million for processing infrastructure

Packaging EPR Implementation

If enacted, packaging EPR would:

Reduce packaging waste at source (lighter, recyclable materials)
Fund municipal recycling programs ($200M+/year estimated)
Improve recycling infrastructure and markets
Shift costs from taxpayers to producers

Timeline: Possible enactment 2025-2026, implementation 2027-2028

Disposal Surcharge

Proposed $5/ton surcharge would:

Generate $133 million/year for waste reduction programs
Fund municipal solid waste management plans
Support infrastructure grants
Incentivize waste reduction and recycling

Status: Recommended in 10-Year Plan, requires legislative action

Zero Waste Communities

Several NYS communities pursuing zero waste goals:

Ithaca: 90% waste diversion goal by 2030
New Paltz: Zero waste campus initiatives (SUNY)
Buffalo: Climate Action Plan includes waste reduction targets

Strategies:

Universal composting and recycling
Reuse centers and repair cafes
Plastic and packaging bans
Pay-as-you-throw programs

Summary: New York State Waste Management 2025

Key Takeaways:

42.2 million tons waste generated annually (2018 baseline)
43% current recycling rate, goal of 85% by 2050
NYS DEC regulates under Part 360, 6 NYCRR
10-Year Solid Waste Plan (2023) provides roadmap to 2050 goal
Food waste law (2022): 2+ tons/week generators must donate & recycle
E-waste ban (2015): Electronics prohibited from landfills
Bottle Bill: 5-cent deposit, 80% return rate
Tipping fees: $35-$150/ton (upstate low, downstate/NYC high)
NYC vs. Upstate: Vast differences in density, costs, recycling rates
Challenges: 85% goal gap, NYC low rates, organics infrastructure, export dependency
Future: Organics expansion, packaging EPR, disposal surcharge, zero waste communities

Whether you're a New York resident, business owner, waste hauler, or policymaker, understanding the state's evolving waste management landscape is essential for compliance, cost management, and contributing to New York's ambitious environmental goals.

Last updated: January 2025. Sources: NYS DEC Division of Materials Management, New York State Solid Waste Management Plan (2023), Part 360 regulations (6 NYCRR), county waste departments, industry data.