It is a time to try to reduce plastic use in our daily lives. To help, it is important to know what can and cannot be recycled in New York. Recycling guidance can vary depending on location, so it is best to familiarize yourself with recycling guidelines specific to the area in which you live. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation works with Recycle Right New York to help provide information to New York residents on recycling guidelines. It is best to reuse and repurpose whenever possible. But when those are not options, you will find most items fall into one of these groups:
Recycle — in general, items such as milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, cereal boxes, soup cans, glass food and beverage containers, office paper and newspapers, can be recycled. Make sure items are properly prepared – such as flattening boxes and rinsing out cans.
Film plastics — in store drop-off—includes items such as bread bags, cereal bag liners, produce bags, and plastic sandwich and storage bags. These items are covered under the New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Act. Look for in-store collection bins near you at large retailers.
Household hazardous waste — pertains to items which need special handling in order not to be harmful to human health or the environment. Common examples are antifreeze, hazardous paint, household hazardous batteries, solid/liquid pesticides, mercury containing devices, and fluorescent bulbs. Keep an eye out for a household hazardous waste collection day in your community. Such events are held certain times throughout the year. There are also some communities which have designated collection sites—it is recommended that you call ahead to verify which items are being collected.
Electronics — certified site drop-off—covers items such as computers, monitors, printers, gaming consoles, hearing aids, DVD players, and other similar products. These items fall under the NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act. Learn about collection sites and take back programs near you.
Organic Materials — items which can breakdown and decompose through composting. Visit DEC’s website to learn about home composting. An alternative is to find a collection service or food scrap drop-off location in your area.
Landfill, local transfer station, or large curbside pick up—this is for large items such as grills, mattresses, bicycles, water heaters and artificial Christmas trees. Some items may also have alternate ways to recycle. Speak with your local transfer station or your curbside pickup hauler to confirm what items they accept. Often there are fees associated with such disposal methods.
Return to retailer — is for items which are no longer usable where “take back” programs are offered. In such instances, the item can be returned to the original place of purchase, or another similar retailer who offers such products for sale. Samples include cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and tires.
Scrap metal recycling — is for certain metal-based products which are not included in typical household recycling programs. Some communities may offer curbside pickup of scrap metal. For those which do not, look for a nearby scrap metal collection site. Items include wire coat hangers, air compressors, ironing boards, certain appliances, and general scrap metal.
Bottle deposit and redemption sites—in general this covers beverage containers for carbonated soft drinks, beer and other malt beverages, mineral water, soda water, water and wine cooler containers. There are also size restrictions on container size. Return to a retail or dedicated beverage container collection site and get your 5-cents back per container.
Items to sell or donate — this includes a wide array of items which are still in good working condition but just are no longer needed by the current owner. Examples are clothing and textiles, toys, small appliances, and so much more. Consider selling at a yard sale or donating to a thrift store. Before donating items, be sure to check what types of items a location accepts. You could also sell on an on-line marketplace. If you could still use the item, but it needs repair—look for a “Repair Café” near you to help fix the item instead of discarding it and buying new.
Odd ball items — do not put in recycling—pertains to various items. First, try to reuse the item if possible. If you cannot reuse or repurpose the item, properly dispose of it.
As with all items, check your local recycling guidelines as recycling guidelines may vary by municipality. Remember, you can find more detailed information by visiting the Recycle Right New York’s NYS Recyclopedia at https://recyclerightny.org/statewide-recyclopedia
