Cardboard Recycling in New York City, NY

Flatten corrugated cardboard, bundle it with twine and set it next to your paper recycling on recycling day.

See all 2 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

2 ways to get rid of a cardboard in New York City

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · New York CityNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
How it works
Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
DSNY curbside recyclingCity service · New York CityNew York City residentsCost not listed
How it works
DSNY curbside recycling: mixed paper and flattened, bundled cardboard in one stream; metal, glass, rigid plastic and cartons in the other. All kinds of metal are accepted, and mostly-metal furniture and small appliances can go out on recycling day.
Cost & rules
- Before you go: Flatten, bundle and tie with twine; set next to your paper recycling, not used as a bin.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.

More about cardboard

New York rules

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)
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)

More New York rules (7)

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)
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)

Where this information comes from (12)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

DSNY: Mixed Paper and Cardboard (opens in new tab) · New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
- Flatten and bundle corrugated cardboard with twine and set it out next to the paper bins or bags; do not use cardboard boxes as bins. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Accepted cardboard includes corrugated cardboard, shipping, shoe and gift boxes, and lightly soiled pizza boxes. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Cardboard boxes may not be used as recycling bins. Checked October 26, 2026.
NYSDEC: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- 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. Checked October 26, 2026.
- 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. Checked October 26, 2026.
- If there is no permitted facility nearby, check with your municipality for periodic one- or two-day HHW collection events. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The state Environmental Protection Fund can pay up to 50 percent of the cost of municipal HHW collection programs. Checked October 26, 2026.
NY General Municipal Law 120-AA: Source separation and segregation of recyclable or reuseable materials (opens in new tab) · New York State Senate (Open Legislation)
- 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. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The source-separation components towns must require include paper, glass, metals, plastics and garden and yard waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
NYSDEC: Recycling Resources (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- DEC describes standard home recycling programs as covering glass, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard; check local guidance for what your program accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
- DEC tells residents to check local guidance to see which items their program accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
NYSDEC: Recycling and Composting (opens in new tab) · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- 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. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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