Waste

Commitments

The City’s waste commitments include:

• Provide recycling services to all residents, agencies, and institutions
• Increase waste diversion and reduce waste.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sanitation truck traffic
• Reduce greenhouse gases via community and curbside composting collection
• Expand regional organics processing and transition to mandatory organics collection citywide
• Provide for the safe collection of harmful household waste including rechargeable batteries
• Complete the next comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan by 2026
• Transition NYC toward a circular economy

Foam and Plastic Bag Bans

In 2019, after years of litigation by the plastics industry, the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) implemented a ban on single-use foam food-service items and packing peanuts. In accordance with Local Law 142 of 2013, DSNY determined that post-consumer, single-use foam food and beverage containers cannot be recycled in a manner that is economically feasible, environmentally effective, and safe for employees as part of the City’s curbside recycling program. DSNY conducted extensive outreach to covered businesses prior to rolling out the ban and offered a six-month warning period prior to enforcement.

New York City passed the landmark plastic bag fee legislation in 2016, only to be preempted by New York State legislature. As a result of advocacy by the City, along with other jurisdictions and interested groups, the State legislature passed the New York State Plastic Bag Ban in 2019. The plastic bag ban will help reduce some of the 10 billion single-use carryout bags used by New Yorkers every year. The ban took effect in 2020 and, pursuant to Local Law 100 of 2019, includes a five-cent fee on paper bags to fund reusable bag distribution and further incentivize the use of reusable bags. Since 2016, DSNY has distributed more than 1 million reusable bags to New Yorkers.

Recovering Organics: Leaf and Yard Waste collections and Food Scrap Drop-offs

Organic waste, including yard waste and food scraps, is the most significant contributor of waste-related greenhouse gas emissions and represents about a third of New York City’s waste stream. This material represents a significant opportunity to reduce emissions from landfilled waste by diverting this material to composting and anaerobic digestion facilities to transform these wastes to resources such as soil amendments and renewable energy. DSNY now provides curbside composting service for yard waste and food scraps to every resident in Queens, the largest program of its kind in the country. There are also more than 200 drop-off sites available citywide, with more on the way.

Commercial Waste Zones

The Commercial Waste Zones program is the culmination of a multi-year, stakeholder-driven process to fundamentally transform the private waste carting industry. This program will create a safe and efficient collection system for commercial waste that provides high-quality, low-cost service for NYC businesses while advancing our zero waste goals.

In 2019, Mayor de Blasio signed Local Law 199, which lays out the path toward comprehensive reform of the private carting industry – reducing vehicle miles travelled and associated emissions by 50% while addressing health, safety, and worker rights. The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) issued the first part of the RFP to select carters to operate in these zones in November 2020 and continues to work to bring the plan to fruition.

Legislation