RECYCLING
WHAT TO DO WITH HARD-TO-RECYCLE ITEMS IN NYC
CNYC thanks the Upper West Side Recycling Center, Inc., for the following information:
Please call the organizations with phone numbers before bringing or sending materials to them.
GENERAL INFORMATION
www.earth911.org (information on where to recycle a wide variety of products and materials)
www.freecycle.org: (online materials exchange)
www.newyork.craigslist.org: (online materials exchange)
NYC Stuff Exchange; tel: 1-877-NYC-STUFF (call to find donation opportunities in your neighborhood)
www.wastematch.org (a free online marketplace where you can list items for sale or donation)
BATTERIES & LIGHTING
(see also Household Hazardous Waste)
Notes: Cover contacts of small batteries with electrical tape before shipping; some retail outlets accept lamps (light bulbs) and ballasts as a trade-in if you buy new equipment.
Dept. of Sanitation, 605 W. 30th Street; tel: 311 (see listing below for Household Hazardous Waste)
Eastern Environmental Technologies, 47 Purdy Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573; tel: (914) 934-2100.
Accepts and recycles most lamps, as well as transformers and ballasts from fluorescent lights on a fee basis. Will pick up large quantities.
Inmetco, 1 Inmetco Drive, Ellwood City, PA 16117; tel: (724) 758-2800; www.inmetco.com
Accepts all dry cell batteries (flashlight-type) for a small per-pound charge; prepaid $19.95 package, which includes the fees for the box, UPS shipping, and recycling for up to 30 pounds of nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal-hydride, lithium ion, alkaline, or small lead-acid dry cells.
Mercury Waste Solutions, 21211 Durand Ave, Union Grove, WI 53182; tel: (800) 741-3343; www.mwsi.com
Accepts alkaline, lead-acid, lithium, magnesium, mercury, nickel-cadmium and silver oxide batteries for a small fee/pound; can be shipped via UPS or mail.
Radio Shack, tel: (212) 304-3977 (various NYC locations)
Accepts NiCd, alkaline, lead-acid and other rechargeable flashlight-type batteries at no charge.
Staples (various NYC locations)
Accepts NiCd and other rechargeable flashlight-type batteries
USA Lamp and Ballast Recycling, 2010 Route 9W, Milton, NY; tel (845) 795-1282
Accepts and recycles all types of batteries and most lamps, as well as transformers and ballasts from fluorescent lights, for a per-pound charge. Will pick up large quantities.
Universal Metals, 10 Hartford Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550; tel: (914) 664-0200
Accepts NiCd and other nickel-containing batteries, as well as lithium ion batteries (from cell phones, laptop computers, etc). Small or no charge for NiCd's; no charge for other batteries and will pay if delivered in large quantities. Can be sent by UPS or mail, or picked up for a fee.
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Lead-acid car batteries must be accepted by the retailers that sell them.
COMPUTERS AND OTHER OFFICE EQUIPMENT
A. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND RECYCLERS
Advanced Recovery; tel: (973) 450-9797; www.advancedrecovery.com; [email protected]
Accepts computer systems including monitors for reuse and recycling; will pick up for a per-pound charge.
Computers for Youth, 508 8th Ave, Suite 2402, New York, NY 10018; tel: (718) 349-5682; www.cfy.org
Accepts IBM- compatible Pentium 3 or higher systems from corporations and refurbishes for reuse in schools and other non-profits. Minimum of 50 pieces. Will pick up at no charge.
Material for the Arts, 33-00 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101; tel: (718) 729-3001; www.mfta.org
Accepts complete computer systems in working condition (up to 5 years old only) as well as office equipment. Free pickup.
Non-Profit Computing; tel: (212) 759-2368;
[email protected]
Clearing house for a variety of computers, faxes, telephone systems and other office equipment.
Per Scholas, 1231 Lafayette Ave. Bronx NY 10474; tel: (718) 991-8400; www.perscholas.org
Accepts all desktop computers, monitors and other peripherals and refurbishes them for reuse in schools or recycling of component materials (older models). Some late-model computer systems are picked up for free; there is a per-piece charge for other equipment.
Per Scholas, New York City’s only electronics processing facility, has been reconditioning and recycling E-Waste since 1999. In addition to making low-cost computers available to children and adults who cannot afford a new computer, Per Scholas also trains local youth for full-time jobs as computer technicians.
Technical Career Institute-Dare to Dream Program; tel: (212) 594-4000 x5777
Accepts IBM-compatible Pentium 2 and later computers, monitors and systems in working order for distribution to disadvantaged people. No minimum number of pieces; free pickup.
Tools for Schools, 1916 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10037; tel: 646-548-9675; http://tools for schoolssolutions.org
Picks up working computer systems and other office equipment for re-use in schools and other non-profits
USA Lamp and Ballast Recycling; 2010 Route 9W, Milton, NY; tel (845) 795-1282
Accepts all IBM-compatible and Macintosh computer systems for reuse and recycling for a per-pound fee, including monitors and other peripherals. Will pick up.
B. MANUFACTURER TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS
Apple: www.apple.com/environment/recycling; tel: 1-888-638-2761
Accepts Apple computers monitors and other peripherals for a $30 fee. Shipping included.
Canon: http://estore.usa.canon.com/recycle/recycle.asp; tel: 1-800-385-2155
Accepts cameras, copiers, faxes, scanners and video equipment for a fee ranging from $6 to $36 (depending on type of product). Shipping included.
Dell: www.dell.com/recycle
Accepts Dell computers monitors and other peripherals; see instructions in recycling envelope in computer box.
Epson: www. epson.com/recycle
Accepts Epson printers and scanners for a $10 fee including shipping.
Hewlett Packard: www.hp.com/go/recycle; tel: 1-800-752-0900
Home or office pickup for HP computers, monitors, printers and faxes, scanners and other peripherals and supplies; $13 to $34 per item.
IBM Corp: www.ibm.com/environment/products; tel: 888-SHOP-IBM (ask for product recycling)
Offers IBM PC recycling service for $29.99, including shipping. This service, designed for individuals and small businesses, will either recycle or refurbish computers, monitors, printers and other peripherals from any manufacturer.
MPC Computers: www.mpccorp.com/site map; tel: 800-515-9199
Accepts computers, monitors, printers scanners, faxes and other peripherals for $35 fee.
C. ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENTS
Community-based organizations accept computers, peripherals and other E-waste for free; info: (tel) 311; www.nyc.gov/nycwasteless
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Dept. of Sanitation, 605 W. 30th Street, Manhattan; Fresh Kills Landfill, Staten Island, Muldoon Avenue Entrance; for info and locations in other boroughs: call 311
Accepts latex paint, motor oil and filters, transmission fluid, household and automotive batteries, fluorescent bulbs, thermostats; 10am-5pm Saturdays except 10-5 Friday the last day of the month. NO cleaning fluids, oil-based paints, medical wastes, pesticides
Eastern Environmental Technologies, 47 Purdy Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573; tel: (914) 934-2100.
Accepts paint, inks, chemicals, cleaners and solvents.
PLASTIC (plastic bottles and jugs [with neck or screw-off top] are collected by the NYC Department of Sanitation; plastic bags should be re-used or, if clean, returned to the store)
Polycarbonate
Ashley Polymers, 5114 Fort Hamilton Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY 11219; tel: 718-851-8111
Accepts 5-gallon polycarbonate bottles (from water fountains); will pick up in truck-load quantities
Polystyrene
Mail Boxes, Etc. (various locations) and The Packaging Store: 37-11 35th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101; tel: (212) 566-5151; www.packagingstore.com
Accepts expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) peanuts and other packaging material
TEXTILES: FABRIC, SHEETS, CLOTHING, ETC.
NO carpeting. (wearable clothing may also be donated to thrift shops)
A. RECYCLERS
Emerson Recycling, 63 Emerson Place, Brooklyn, NY 11205; tel: (718) 622-1799
Accepts mixed textile cuttings from companies and ship overseas for reprocessing and reuse. Pickup for free or for a per-pound fee, depending on quality and quantity.
Millwiping; 1656 East 233rd Street, Bronx, NY 10466; tel: (718) 994-7100
Deals mainly with large organizations; will pick up clean textiles that have been separated by type of fiber. Payment depends on quality and quantity.
Trans-Americas Trading Co., 122 West Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222; tel: (718) 383-3445
Picks up and pays for large quantities of clean, post-consumer textiles from charities and municipalities, including clothing and other household items such as towels, curtains, sheets and bedspreads. Accepts mixed fibers.
B. THRIFT SHOPS (Upper West Side only – see yellow pages for other NYC locations)
Goodwill, 217 W. 79th Street, NYC 10024; 212-874-5050
Housing Works, 306 Columbus Ave (74th-75th streets), NYC 10023; tel: 212-579-7566
Salvation Army, 258 W. 96th Street, NYC 10025; tel: 212-663,2258
CARPETING
Carpet Cycle, 447 Schiller Street, Elizabeth, NJ; tel: (908) 353-5900; [email protected]
Removes and recycles old carpeting and padding from commercial buildings for a fee
NYC Department of Sanitation; tel: 311
Collects old carpeting and padding in bundles no more than 2 feet high and 4 feet long. Must be free of nails and staples.
