Trash & Recycling in New York, NY (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for New York, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
New York City's Housing Maintenance Code sets exactly how often waste has to move out of a dwelling. Owners with dumbwaiter service must empty it into separate receptacles at least once a day. Without a dumbwaiter, the owner must run either a fixed two-hour morning or evening pickup window or a supervised deposit period, and tenants must use whichever method the owner sets up.
NYC Waste Collection Frequency for Dwellings
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 27-2022
§ 27-2022 Frequency of collection of waste matter from dwelling units in multiple dwellings. a. The owner of a multiple dwelling shall not allow the accumulation except in a lawful receptacle of ashes or any type of waste matter in any part of the premises. b. In multiple dwellings where the owner provides dumbwaiter service, all waste matter shall be collected at least once daily and deposited...
Bin Placement Rules
New York City requires owners and occupants to pull empty trash and recycling receptacles back from the curb by 9 p.m. on the day of collection, or by 9 a.m. the next morning if collection happens after 4 p.m.
NYC Trash Receptacle Removal Deadline
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-120
After the contents have been removed by the department or other collection agency any receptacles remaining shall be removed from the front of the building or dwelling before 9:00 p.m. on the day of collection, or if such collection occurs after 4:00 p.m., then before 9:00 a.m. on the day following collection.
Bulk Item Disposal
New York City residents on curbside recycling service set bulk metal and bulk plastic, items too heavy or large for a normal bin, right next to their recycling containers on collection day. Buildings served by mechanized bin pickup skip the curb and instead call their Sanitation district garage to schedule bulk metal and plastic recycling collection under 16 RCNY § 1-08(h)(1).
NYC Curbside Bulk Metal and Plastic Rule
Some Restrictions16 RCNY § 1-08(h)(1)
(i) Curbside collection service. Designated recyclable metal, glass and plastic (other than bulk metal or bulk plastic) that is collected for recycling via curbside recycling collection service must be placed at curbside in containers or plastic bags complying with subparagraphs (e)(1)(ii) or (e)(2)(ii) of this section on the day(s) specified for recycling collection by the Commissioner. Bulk...
Recycling Requirements
New York City requires households and building owners to source-separate designated recyclables for weekly curbside pickup. Under Administrative Code § 16-305(b), the Sanitation Commissioner must designate at least six recyclable materials, including yard waste and organics, and buildings of four or more units must post separation instructions and provide a documented recycling area under §§ 16-305(e)-(f).
NYC Curbside Recycling: Six Materials, Weekly Pickup
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-305(b); § 16-305.1(a)
The commissioner shall adopt and implement rules designating at least six recyclable materials, including plastics to the extent required in subdivision c of this section and yard waste to the extent required in section 16-308 of this chapter and organic waste to the extent required in section 16-308.1 of this chapter, contained in department-managed solid waste and requiring households to sour...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
New York City runs a mandatory curbside organics collection program citywide under Administrative Code § 16-308.1(a), phased in by sanitation district starting October 2023 and covering the entire city by October 2024. Residential building owners who don't participate face civil penalties under § 16-308.1(g).
NYC Mandatory Curbside Organics Collection
Significant RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-308.1
The department shall establish a mandatory citywide curbside organics collection program for the diversion of organic waste in accordance with this section. Such program shall be implemented by no later than: 1. October 2, 2023, for residential properties in no less than 30 sanitation districts, as determined by the commissioner by rule. 2. October 7, 2024, for residential properties in all rem...
Illegal Dumping
New York City bans dumping dirt, debris, trash, or waste from a vehicle onto any street, lot, park, or waterway, public or private, under Administrative Code § 16-119, with fines starting at $4,000 per violation.
NYC Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-119
It shall be unlawful for any person...to suffer or permit any amount of dirt, sand, gravel, clay, loam, stone, rocks, rubble, building rubbish, sawdust, shavings or trade or household waste, refuse, ashes, manure, garbage, rubbish or debris of any sort...to be dumped, deposited or otherwise disposed of in or upon any sidewalk, street, lot, park, public place, wharf, pier, dock, bulkhead, slip, ...
Yard Waste Collection
New York City requires anyone who sets yard waste at the curb to separate, tie, bundle or bag it under Sanitation Department rules before pickup. Administrative Code § 16-308(f) puts that packaging duty on residents, while businesses are banned outright from leaving yard waste for department collection.
NYC Yard Waste Bagging & Bundling Rules
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-308(f)
Generators of yard waste, except those identified in subdivision g of this section, shall separate, tie, bundle, or place into bags or receptacles, in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner, any yard waste set out for collection by the department pursuant to subdivision b of this section. The commissioner shall notify all residents in districts that receive yard waste collection ...
Dumpster Rules
New York City requires a Department of Transportation permit before any commercial refuse container, the roll-off or dumpster crews leave on the curb, sits on a public street. Administrative Code § 19-123 bars putrescible waste in these containers, requires the owner's name, address and permit number posted on the box, and demands reflective, night-visible paint plus a protective covering shielding the pavement underneath.
NYC Commercial Dumpster Street Placement Permit
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 19-123
It shall be unlawful for any person using a commercial refuse container or the owner or lessee thereof to place or to permit the placement of such container on any street unless the owner of such container has obtained a permit therefor from the commissioner and unless such container is in compliance with the provisions of this section and the rules of the department in relation thereto. ... Su...
Collection Schedule
In New York City, trash and recycling bags go to the curb no earlier than 8:00 p.m. the night before collection; receptacles with tight-fitting lids may go out at 6:00 p.m. Everything must be out by midnight.
NYC Trash Set-Out Times: 6 or 8 PM Curb Window
Some Restrictions16 RCNY § 1-02.1(a)
materials must be placed out at the curb no earlier than 8:00 p.m. on the day before scheduled collection and no later than 12:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day; ... The following materials must be placed out at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day before scheduled collection ...: (i) materials placed out for collection in receptacles with a tight-fitting lid ... All receptacles ...
Recycling Rules
New York City requires households to source-separate designated recyclable materials from trash under Sanitation Department rules, with weekly curbside collection and real civil penalties for mixing them into regular refuse.
NYC Recycling: Source Separation Required
Some RestrictionsNew York City Administrative Code § 16-305
The commissioner shall adopt and implement rules designating at least six recyclable materials, including plastics to the extent required in subdivision c of this section and yard waste to the extent required in section 16-308 of this chapter and organic waste to the extent required in section 16-308.1 of this chapter, contained in department-managed solid waste and requiring households to sour...