Recycling in New York
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 65 cities and towns across New York. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
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New York rules
- Since January 1, 2015, consumers may not put covered electronic equipment in landfills, waste-to-energy plants, the trash or curbside trash pickup. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab)
- ECL 27-2611(3): beginning January 1, 2015, no individual or household may dispose of electronic waste in any solid waste management facility or set it out for disposal collection. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-2611: Disposal ban (e-waste) (opens in new tab)
- DEC's sample notice: all New York consumers, households and businesses alike, may no longer dispose of e-waste such as computers, peripherals and televisions at landfills or waste-to-energy facilities. Source: NYSDEC: Electronic Waste Requirements for Solid/Hazardous Waste Facilities and Haulers/Transporters (opens in new tab)
More New York rules (55)
- New York consumers are required to recycle e-waste such as computers, peripherals, televisions, small-scale servers and small electronic equipment. Source: NYSDEC: Electronic Waste Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Televisions are among the electronic waste items New York consumers are required to recycle. Source: NYSDEC: Electronic Waste Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Solid waste facility operators must give users written information on e-waste recycling and post signs that e-waste may not be disposed of there. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-2611: Disposal ban (e-waste) (opens in new tab)
- A retailer that wants to accept e-waste from consumers must register and meet the requirements for an e-waste collection site. Source: NYSDEC: Requirements for Retailers of Electronic Equipment (opens in new tab)
- Microwave ovens, like other household appliances, are not covered electronic equipment under New York's e-waste law. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab)
- Clothes washers and dryers are household appliances excluded from New York's e-waste law. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab)
- Refrigerators and freezers are household appliances excluded from New York's e-waste law. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste (opens in new tab)
- Under the Wireless Telephone Recycling Act, wireless service suppliers that sell phones must take up to 10 cell phones from anyone for free reuse and recycling, or provide free shipping to a recycling program. Source: NYSDEC: Electronic Waste Recycling (opens in new tab)
- DEC reports 99,198,623 lb of e-waste collected for recycling and reuse in New York in 2025, and over 1.1 billion lb since the program launched in 2011. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab)
- The PaintCare fee on new paint in New York is $0.00 (half pint or smaller), $0.45 (over a half pint to under 1 gallon), $0.95 (1-2 gallons) and $1.95 (over 2 up to 5 gallons). Source: PaintCare: New York (opens in new tab)
- The PaintCare fee paid when buying new paint is not a tax or a deposit. Source: NYSDEC: Postconsumer Paint Collection Program (opens in new tab)
- Architectural paint may be sold in New York only if the producer and its brands participate in the program and are registered with PaintCare. Source: NYSDEC: Postconsumer Paint Collection Program (opens in new tab)
- DEC lists oil-based paints as an example of household hazardous waste. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- New York's Extended Producer Responsibility for Rechargeable Batteries Law (ECL Article 27, Title 18) was signed in 2010 and amended in 2025; it is illegal to throw covered rechargeable batteries in the trash. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- ECL 27-1805: no person may knowingly dispose of rechargeable batteries as solid waste in New York. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1805: Rechargeable battery disposal ban (opens in new tab)
- Retailers that sell rechargeable batteries or products containing them must accept used rechargeable batteries from New York consumers for recycling. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Retailers must accept up to 10 rechargeable batteries per day from anyone during normal business hours, whether or not they buy replacements, or as many as the consumer bought there. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Covered: nickel-cadmium, sealed lead, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and other rechargeable dry cells, battery packs, and e-scooter and e-bike batteries. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Not covered: batteries of 50 lb or more, vehicle power batteries (car, boat, golf cart, wheelchair), solar/wind storage batteries, built-in memory backup batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Non-rechargeable single-use batteries such as common alkaline batteries are not covered by the law. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- E-scooter and e-bike batteries are now covered, with certain retailers accepting them voluntarily; DEC expects more return options, including for damaged ones, by the end of 2026. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Rechargeable batteries that can be safely and easily removed from products should be removed before the product is disposed of. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Some municipalities run permitted HHW facilities or registered HHW events that accept batteries and products with embedded batteries from residents. Source: NYSDEC: Rechargeable Battery Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Violating the rechargeable battery disposal ban carries a civil penalty of $50 for a first violation, rising to $100 and $200 for repeat violations within 12 months. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1809: Enforcement (rechargeable batteries) (opens in new tab)
- Retailers selling rechargeable batteries by catalog, mail, phone or internet must tell buyers of an opportunity to return used rechargeable batteries at no cost. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1807: Rechargeable battery recycling program (opens in new tab)
- By statute, covered rechargeable batteries weigh less than 50 pounds and include Ni-Cd, sealed lead, lithium ion and NiMH batteries and e-scooter/e-bike batteries. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1803: Definitions (rechargeable batteries) (opens in new tab)
- It is illegal to put spent or unwanted lead-acid batteries in the trash in New York. Source: NYSDEC: Lead-Acid Batteries (opens in new tab)
- ECL 27-1701: no one may dispose of a lead-acid battery in mixed municipal solid waste; it must go to a retailer, distributor, collector, recycling facility or, as a last resort, an authorized hazardous waste facility. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1701: Lead-acid battery recycling (opens in new tab)
- For this law, a lead-acid battery is any battery of six or more volts containing lead and sulfuric acid used to power a vehicle (cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, lawn and garden equipment). Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1701: Lead-acid battery recycling (opens in new tab)
- Buyers of a new lead-acid battery who don't return a used one pay a $5 return incentive payment, refunded if a used battery is returned within 30 days. Source: NYSDEC: Lead-Acid Batteries (opens in new tab)
- Illegal disposal of a lead-acid battery carries a civil penalty of up to $50 per violation. Source: NYSDEC: Lead-Acid Batteries (opens in new tab)
- Most scrap metal recyclers accept lead-acid batteries for recycling. Source: NYSDEC: Lead-Acid Batteries (opens in new tab)
- ECL 27-1913: until December 31, 2027, a $2.50 waste tire management and recycling fee is charged on each new tire sold; it does not apply to recapped tires. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1913: Waste tire management and recycling fee (opens in new tab)
- The waste tire management and recycling fee does not apply to recapped tires. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1913: Waste tire management and recycling fee (opens in new tab)
- Tire services must post a notice that state law requires them to accept waste tires in exchange for an equal number of new tires sold or installed. Source: NY Environmental Conservation Law 27-1905: Mandatory tire acceptance; notices (opens in new tab)
- The Waste Tire Management and Recycling Act prohibits land burial of waste tires. Source: NYSDEC: Waste Tires (opens in new tab)
- New York generates an estimated 18-20 million waste tires a year, about one per person, and DEC regulates their management. Source: NYSDEC: Waste Tires (opens in new tab)
- DEC lists tires among items with New York collection and recycling programs that should be managed outside the recycling bin. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab)
- DEC's storm debris guidance: nonworking refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners need Freon or other refrigerant removed by a certified technician before recycling. Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
- Refrigerant must be removed from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners by a certified technician before they are recycled (DEC storm debris guidance). Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
- Most large appliances containing metal can be recycled as scrap metal once the refrigerant is removed (DEC storm debris guidance). Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
- White goods such as large appliances are recycled as scrap metal (DEC storm debris guidance). Source: NYSDEC: Storm Debris Management Guidelines (opens in new tab)
- New York has no mattress stewardship law: bill S1463B (extended producer responsibility for mattresses) passed the Senate but its status is "In Assembly Committee"; it has not been signed. Source: NY Senate Bill S1463 (2025-2026): Extended producer responsibility for mattresses (opens in new tab)
- S1463 would establish extended producer responsibility for mattresses; it is a pending bill, not law. Source: NY Senate Bill S1463 (2025-2026): Extended producer responsibility for mattresses (opens in new tab)
- The mattress EPR bill (which would cover mattresses and foundations) repassed the Senate on June 4, 2026 and was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Source: NY Senate Bill S1463 (2025-2026): Extended producer responsibility for mattresses (opens in new tab)
- DEC encourages giving away, handing down or repairing furniture. Source: NYSDEC: Reuse (opens in new tab)
- Household hazardous wastes are household materials that would be regulated as hazardous waste if generated elsewhere; household-generated HHW is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste rules. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- Residents can take HHW to authorized HHW collection facilities or HHW collection events hosted by counties and municipalities; DEC has a map and list of permitted facilities. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Source: NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab)
- General Municipal Law 120-aa required every municipality, by September 1, 1992, to adopt a local law requiring source separation of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics, yard waste) where economic markets exist. Source: NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab)
- The source-separation components towns must require include paper, glass, metals, plastics and garden and yard waste. Source: NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab)
- DEC describes standard home recycling programs as covering glass, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard; check local guidance for what your program accepts. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab)
- DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab)
- DEC lists New York collection programs for items that belong outside the recycling bin: beverage containers, carpet, cell phones, e-waste, lead-acid vehicle batteries, mercury thermostats, paint, pharmaceuticals, plastic film, rechargeable batteries and tires. Source: NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab)