NYC Sanitation Announces Service Changes Related to COVID-19 Budget Cuts

Curbside Composting Temporarily Suspended Beginning May 4

Electronics Collection Appointments Discontinued

In the face of economic hardship, and to ensure the City can continue to devote resources to essential safety, health, and shelter, and food security needs, the New York City Department of Sanitation announced the suspension of the curbside composting program, beginning May 4, 2020. During the suspension, any food scraps and yard waste set out for composting will be collected as trash. The suspension is currently planned through June 30, 2021. Residents with brown bins should store their bins in a safe location for the duration of the suspension. 

DSNY also announced the indefinite suspension of appointments for curbside electronics collection, which had been halted due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

There are no changes to the Department’s other curbside collection programs, including trash and mandatory recycling. Residents should follow their normal schedule and place their material at the curb after 4 p.m. but before midnight the evening before their collection day. 

“These are painful cuts to make, and we do not take these changes lightly. The City is facing an unprecedented crisis, and these service reductions will allow the City to maintain emergency services and its core municipal services,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “We look forward to a day when we can restore our full suite of composting and electronics collection programs for City residents, and we thank all New Yorkers for their patience and cooperation as we implement these changes.”

Curbside Composting:

Starting Monday, May 4, 2020 residents who use their brown bins for curbside composting should discard food scraps and yard waste with their trash. Trash should be put out for collection in securely tied heavy-duty bags or leak proof receptacles with tightly fitting lids. Any food scraps and yard waste set out for collection on or after May 4th will be collected as trash. 

This is a temporary suspension, and residents should keep their bins for when service resumes. Brown compost bins belong to the address where they were originally delivered. DSNY will not collect brown bins. After your last collection, use soap and water to clean your bin and place it in storage for when the program resumes. Do not leave your bins on the curb.
Food Scrap Drop-off Sites have been temporarily closed due to social distancing mandates. The Department will determine the feasibility of reopening certain Food Scrap Drop-off Sites at a later date. 

Residents are encouraged to make compost on their own if they have the space to do so. Learn how to compost at home at nyc.gov/recyclingmaterials and click “Food Scraps + Yard Waste.” 

Appointments for curbside electronics collection: 

New York State law prohibits the disposal of certain e-waste items, like computers, printers and televisions, with your trash and recycling. DSNY announced a temporary suspension of curbside electronics collection last month to allow us to better provide our essential services. This suspension has been extended indefinitely. 

Though the current crisis has caused temporary changes to some other e-waste disposal programs, residents looking to get rid of e-waste will be able to find other opportunities as conditions allow at nyc.gov/electronics.

For further updates, residents should call 311, visit nyc.gov/sanitation or follow @nycsanitation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the New York City Department of Sanitation

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) keeps New York City healthy, safe and clean by collecting, recycling and disposing of waste, cleaning streets and vacant lots, and clearing snow and ice. The Department operates 59 district garages and manages a fleet of more than 2,000 rear-loading collection trucks, 450 mechanical brooms and 705 salt/sand spreaders. The Department clears litter, snow and ice from approximately 6,500 miles of City streets and removes debris from vacant lots as well as abandoned vehicles from City streets.

___________________________
Henry A. Ehrhardt, Director
Bureau of Community Affairs
646-885-4503
hehrhardt@dsny.nyc.gov

 

Sanitation