Recycling in New York City has evolved into a citywide effort that impacts every borough, block, and building. With mandatory curbside composting now in effect across NYC as of 2025 and strict guidelines on how to sort recyclables, residents have more responsibility than ever to “recycle right.” It doesn’t matter if you’re in a Manhattan high-rise, a Staten Island townhouse, or a Brooklyn brownstone; knowing the rules helps keep the city cleaner, greener, and more efficient.
NYC Composting Rules: A Citywide Mandate
In recent years, New York rolled out a phased plan for mandatory curbside composting, and as of early 2025, it’s now in effect across all five boroughs. That means your food scraps, yard waste, and certain paper products must be placed in brown bins provided by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). By participating, residents help divert organic material from landfills, cut methane emissions, and create nutrient-rich compost for city parks and gardens.
NYC Recycling Guidelines: The Basics
The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) provides detailed guidelines on how to sort recyclables, and understanding these basics is crucial. All boroughs follow the same sorting structure:
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Blue bins or bags are for recyclable materials, including metal, glass, and rigid plastics.
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Green bins or bags are for paper and cardboard.
Residents should ensure that recyclables are rinsed clean, cardboard is flattened, and items like plastic bags or Styrofoam, which are NOT recyclable in NYC’s system, are kept out of the bins. Find the full official guide on DSNY’s Recycling Rules.
Borough-by-Borough Recycling Nuances
While the overarching rules are citywide, each borough has its quirks. In Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, high-density buildings may use chute rooms and compactors, which require labeled bins to avoid contamination. In Staten Island, the addition of more curbside collection routes encourages residents to put their bins out the night before. Queens and the Bronx, with their mix of private homes and multi-family dwellings, have active participation in both curbside pickup and community compost drop-offs.
Confused about your building’s recycling rules? Visit Recycle Right NY or sign up for GrowNYC alerts to get borough-specific updates and downloadable sorting guides for your neighborhood.
What NOT to Recycle in NYC
One of the biggest challenges in NYC’s recycling program is “wishcycling”, when residents toss non-recyclable items in the bin, hoping they’ll be accepted. Items such as plastic bags, disposable coffee cups with wax liners, and greasy pizza boxes often contaminate recycling loads. Stick to the approved list: metal cans, glass bottles, clean paper, and #1, #2, and #5 plastics. When in doubt, check the DSNY guide or use Recycle Right NY’s online tool.
Recycling Challenges & Progress
NYC’s recycling participation rate is improving, but the city still faces hurdles like contamination, unclear signage, and a lack of compliance in some buildings. According to DSNY reports, education and enforcement are helping; residents who understand the rules are significantly more likely to recycle properly. Initiatives like GrowNYC workshops, the Recycle Right NY campaign, and compost bin giveaways are helping bridge the knowledge gap.
NYC Residents Can Lead the Way
New York City is one of the most complex recycling systems in the country, but also one of the most impactful. By following the rules, using your borough’s resources, and spreading awareness, you help the city divert tons of waste from landfills every year.
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JUST DEWITT. DOME Property Management has been providing professional property management services to NYC and beyond since 1987. For more information about DOME Property Management and their AI Chatbot Ask The Dewitts, visit DOMEgroup.com or drop us an email at properties@DOMEproperty.com