Trash Guide – New York City
NYC sorts into three curbside bins, plus special waste and everyday trash. Tap a card for more information.
Metal, Glass, Plastic & Cartons
Cans, bottles, jars, jugs, foil, beverage cartons.
Empty and rinse them. Metal caps and lids go in the blue bin; plastic caps go in the trash. Paper and cardboard do not belong here. Set out after 6 PM in a labeled bin with a secure lid, or in a clear bag after 8 PM.
Paper & Cardboard
Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, office paper, boxes.
Keep paper out of the blue bin. NYC collects it separately. Flatten cardboard and keep it dry; bundles tied with twine are fine. Wet, greasy, or food-soiled paper goes in the brown compost bin, not recycling.
Food Scraps & Yard Waste
All food scraps, food-soiled paper, leaf & yard waste.
Composting is mandatory in NYC. Since April 1, 2025, you can be fined for putting compostables in the trash. Meat, bones, dairy, and greasy pizza boxes all count. No diapers, wrappers, foam, or animal waste. Picked up on your recycling day.
Hazardous
Paint, motor oil, pesticides, harsh cleaners, meds, thermometers, syringes.
Never in the trash. NYC takes these at SAFE Disposal Events (twice a year per borough) and at year-round Special Waste drop-off sites, open Thursday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Syringes must be in a proper sharps container. If you find these on a cleanup, don't handle them bare-handed.
E-Waste & Batteries
Computers, TVs, printers, phones, and every kind of battery.
Electronics don't belong in the trash. Drop them at a SAFE event or a Special Waste site. All battery types are accepted there too. Tape the terminals on rechargeable and lithium batteries with clear tape (not opaque) or bag them individually: loose ones start fires in sanitation trucks.
General Litter
Wrappers, cigarette butts, foam, dirty cups, plastic caps.
The bulk of most cleanups. If it isn't recyclable, compostable, or hazardous, it goes here. Regular trash bag is fine. DSNY will collect the bags from an approved Volunteer Cleanup event.