Following significant planning, analysis, and contract development, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is overhauling the City's commercial waste industry.

DSNY has broken the five boroughs into 20 Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) and established new no-cost contracts with carters authorized to work in each zone. Businesses must sign a new service agreement with a zone-authorized carter when their zone is rolled out.

The Queens Central zone will be the first zone. Businesses in that zone must sign a new contract with a zone-authorized carter between September 3, 2024 and January 2, 2025. If businesses in that zone fail to do so, DSNY will select a carter for that business.

Other zones will be announced as new rules are released. 

You can learn more online and view a list of zone-authorized carters.

Learn more about the new Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ).

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) changed the usual time for businesses placing trash out at the curb for private carter collection. The new set-out times will help keep city streets clean and reduce food sources for rats.

As of March 1, 2024, all businesses in NYC must use a bin with a secure lid for trash (perishable material or organics). This rule does not apply to recycling.

Bins may be placed at the curb 1 hour before closing or after 8 PM. You may also use bins for recycling, but it is not required. Recycling in bags or bundles can be set out after 8 PM. 

Bins must be removed from the curb by the time your business reopens.

This does not apply to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock.

Learn more about commercial containerization requirements.

Enforcement and Fines

Failure to use, store, or remove bins properly may result in a fine of:

• $50 for the first offense
• $100 for the second offense
• $200 for the third and subsequent offenses

Failure to separate recyclables from trash, or failure to set out recyclables correctly, may result in a fine of:

• $100 for the first offense
• $200 for the second offense
• $400 for the third and subsequent offenses

Policy Feedback

You can submit feedback to DSNY about the new set-out time policy.

As of March 1, 2024, all businesses in NYC must use bins with secure lids when setting out trash for collection. 

This rule applies to every business in New York City, regardless of what is sold. Any trash or organics (food waste, food-soiled paper, plant waste) must be in a bin with a secure lid.

This requirement does not apply to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock.

Learn more about commercial containerization requirements.

This rule does not require the separation of trash and organics, only the use of bins with secure lids for collection. However, some businesses are required to separate their organic waste. Learn more at nyc.gov/commercialorganics.

Setout Times

All businesses must use a bin with a secure lid for trash.

Bins may be placed at the curb 1 hour before closing or after 8 PM.

Bins can also be used for recycling, but it is not required. Recycling in bags or bundles can be set out after 8 PM. 

All bins must be removed from the curb by the time the business reopens.

How to Store Containers

Bins should be stored inside or in a rear yard if possible. If space is not available, bins can be stored within 3 feet of the building line when not set out for collection. 

Bins placed on the sidewalk must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner and allow a clear path for pedestrians.

It is illegal to chain bins to public property.

Exceptions

This requirement does not apply to:

• Recyclables (metal, glass, plastic, or paper) 
• Businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock

Enforcement and Complaints

Food-Related Businesses

Enforcement began on September 1, 2023.

Businesses with 5 or More Locations

Enforcement began on October 5, 2023.

All Businesses

The warning period for all businesses ended March 31, 2024.

Businesses not following the rules will be fined:

• $50 for a first offense
• $100 for a second offense
• $200 for all subsequent offenses

Complaints

Visit the Trash or Recycling Disposal Complaint page to report a business not following containerization rules. 

Businesses that use the services of a private carter must post a decal that clearly states the carter's name and the days and times that the refuse is picked up.

Merchants who transport their refuse personally must post their Business Integrity Commission Self-Hauler registration.

Businesses that throw away less than 20 gallons of garbage per week may share private carter service with other businesses.  The private carter must offer the businesses a written contract and free decal. 

If multiple businesses share a carter, they should set up a single place to put garbage. Businesses must keep a copy of the contract and provide it to Department of Sanitation staff on request.

Certain New York City businesses are required to separate their organic waste. 

Your business must follow these rules if it is a: 

• Food service establishment in a hotel with 100 or more rooms 
• Food service vendor in an arena or stadium with a seating capacity of at least 15,000 people 
• Food manufacturer with a floor area of at least 25,000 square feet 
• Food wholesaler with a floor area of at least 20,000 square feet 
• Sponsor of a temporary public event with anticipated attendance of 500 or more people 
• Catering establishment hosting on-site events with anticipated attendance of 100 or more people 
• Food preparation location with a floor area of at least 6,000 square feet 
• Retail food store with a floor area at least 10,000 square feet  
• Chain retail food store of 3 or more NYC locations with combined floor area at least 10,000 square feet 
• Food service establishment with a floor area of 7,000 square feet or more 
• Chain food service establishment with 2 or more NYC locations with combined floor area at least 8,000 square feet or more 
• Food service establishment with combined floor area at least 8,000 square feet or more in the same building or location 

Businesses covered by these rules must separate staff-handled, back of house food scraps, plant trimmings, food-soiled paper and certified compostable products from garbage and other recyclables. 

You can arrange for collection by a private carter or transport organic waste yourself.

Affected establishments should be prepared to receive inspectors, at least annually as part of routine inspections or 311 complaints, from one or more of the following agencies: 

• NYC Department of Sanitation 
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
• NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection 

You can learn more online about how to comply and avoid violations.

Learn more about commercial organics rules.

On-Site Processing

If you choose to process organic material on-site, you must register with the Department of Sanitation within 30 days of installing on-site processing equipment.

Submit the Commercial Organics On-Site Processing registration form.

Businesses are required to recycle certain materials and make sure, as much as possible, that the items are properly handled by their private carter.  

Businesses must also post easily visible recycling signs and provide clearly labeled recycling containers, so that both employees and customers know what and where to recycle. 

Businesses are required to recycle: 

Metal (all kinds) 

• Metal cans (including soup and food cans, empty aerosol cans, dried-out paint cans) 
• Aluminum foil and foil products (wrap and trays) 
• Metal caps and lids 
• Industry-specific metal (such as wire hangers, pots, tools, curtain rods, small appliances that are mostly metal, etc.) 
• Large or bulky metal items (furniture and cabinets; large appliances such as microwaves, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) 

Glass 

• Glass bottles 
• Glass jars 

Plastic (all rigid plastics) 

• Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars 
• Rigid plastic caps and lids 
• Rigid plastic food containers (such as yogurt, deli,” clamshell” containers and other plastic take-out containers) 
• Rigid plastic non-food containers 
• Rigid plastic packaging (such as "blister-pack" and "clamshell" consumer packaging, acetate boxes) 
• Rigid plastic wares (such as flowerpots, mixing bowls, and plastic appliances) 
• Bulk rigid plastic (like crates, buckets, pails, and furniture) 

Please note: rigid plastic is any item that is mostly plastic resin—it is relatively inflexible and maintains its shape or form when bent. 

Beverage Cartons 

• Milk or juice cartons 
• Drink boxes 
• Aseptic packaging (holds beverages and food: juice, non-refrigerated milk, soup, etc.) 

Paper 

• Newspapers, magazines, catalogs 
• White and colored paper (including lined, copier, and computer paper; staples are ok) 
• Mail and envelopes (any color; window envelopes are ok) 
• Receipts 
• Paper bags (handles ok)  
• Wrapping paper 
• Soft-cover books (such as paperbacks and comics; no spiral bindings) 

Cardboard 

• Smooth cardboard (such as food and shoe boxes, tubes, file folders, and cardboard from product packaging) 
• Cardboard egg cartons and trays 
• Pizza boxes (remove and discard soiled liner) 
• Corrugated cardboard boxes 

Get more information about rules for business recycling and how to comply.

Some electronics contain hazardous materials, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. You can’t dispose of these electronics, also called e-waste, with your regular trash or recycling.

E-waste includes:

Computers and Computer Accessories

• Desktop towers, monitors, laptops, and tablets (ex: iPads)
• Keyboards, mice, and pointing devices
• Printers and document scanners
• Cables, cords, and wiring permanently fixed to a device
• Small-scale servers

TV and Video Equipment

• TVs, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs (digital video recorders)
• Cable boxes, cable/satellite receivers, antennas, digital converter boxes
• Cables, cords, and wiring permanently fixed to the TV

Portable Electronic Devices

• Laptops, tablets (iPads), and e-readers
• Portable music devices/digital music players (iPod, mp3 player, Walkman)
• Digital cameras
• Cell phones

Home Electronics

• Video game consoles
• Fax machines
• Electronic keyboards

Small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, and nonprofits with fewer than 75 employees, are eligible for free and convenient electronics recycling provided by manufacturers. Contact the product manufacturer for more information. You can get a list of registered electronic equipment manufacturers.

Large businesses should first consider donating their unwanted electronics to a charitable organization or school. If donating is not an option, businesses must contract with an electronic waste recycler. When choosing a recycler, look for e-stewards or R2 certification to help ensure that your electronics are recycled responsibly. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation maintains a list of registered recyclers.

Non-Hazardous E-Waste Removal

E-waste that is not classified as hazardous waste per the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation can be collected by a private carter or you can register as a self-hauler to remove it yourself.

Businesses operating in residential buildings may qualify to have the Department of Sanitation collect their trash and recyclables.

Sanitation will charge you a fee based on the amount of waste.

To qualify for ProFee collection, professionals must have offices in houses or apartment buildings currently receiving Department of Sanitation service and must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be authorized by law to practice at a residential location that also serves as their home;
• Be a licensed New York State dentist or doctor engaged in an individual or group practice on the first or second floor of an apartment building;
• Be engaged in an occupation in the residential portion of a building that has been used for the same occupational purpose since December 15, 1961.

You can get more information about the program.

Online

Learn more about ProFee collection and download an application.

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