Can you recycle plastic bags in New York, NY?

Not in your recycling. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility NYC Department of Sanitation uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash.

What do I do with batteries in New York, NY?

Batteries never go in any of your New York, NY carts — not the recycling, not the trash. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in New York, NY

📍 NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) · 3-cart program

Who collects your recycling in New York, NY

New York, NY collects its own residential waste: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) operates the carts directly rather than contracting the route to a private hauler. Households get three carts — a recycling for recyclables, a compost bin for food scraps and yard trimmings, and a trash for everything else.

Curbside food-scrap collection is still uncommon in the US, so the green cart here is worth using.

The quick answer for New York, NY

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Recycling	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Recycling	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Recycling	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Recycling	Lids off.
Food scraps	🌱 Compost bin	Fruit, veg, leftovers, bones.
Greasy pizza box	🌱 Compost bin	A clean box can be recycled instead.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Trash	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for New York, NY directly.

📷 Scan an item

New York, NY recycling FAQ

Can you recycle plastic bags in New York, NY?: Not in your recycling. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility NYC Department of Sanitation uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your trash.
What do I do with batteries in New York, NY?: Batteries never go in any of your New York, NY carts — not the recycling, not the trash. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) guide.