DSNY’s ecycleNYC Program to Expand Curbside Pickups

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) recently announced that the curbside e-waste pickups that are part of the city’s ecycleNYC program have now expanded beyond Staten Island and North Brooklyn to include South Brooklyn and Western Queens.

According to city officials, curbside pickups, launched as a pilot effort by DSNY and Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) in Staten Island (later expanding into Northern Brooklyn), have been so successful that the concept is now being made available to residents in South Brooklyn and Western Queens.

Effective immediately, residents in buildings with one to nine units living in South Brooklyn and Western Queens community boards will be eligible to receive curbside collection of their unwanted electronics items that are covered under the New York State disposal ban. This announcement continues the expansion of DSNY’s e-waste curbside collection program.

This expansion covers residents living in one- to nine-unit buildings in Brooklyn Community Boards 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18 and Queens Community Boards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9.

“We are excited to be able to continue to expand our curbside collection of certain e-waste,” said DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia in a statement. “Electronics often contain harmful materials, including lead, mercury and cadmium. We want to keep these toxins from polluting the air, soil and water. Our curbside collection program, along with our ecycleNYC initiative, drop-off locations and special events, give residents across the city a number of options when looking to dispose of their e-waste.”

Related:Rethinking the Way We Manage, Repurpose Waste

Pickups will take place Monday through Friday, except city holidays. Items must be placed at the curb; sanitation workers cannot enter private property.

Residents with electronic items may also visit the Special Waste Drop-Off locations or attend one of the SAFE Disposal Events. Both accept e-waste covered by state law. Residents living in buildings with 10 or more units should enroll in ecycleNYC, a free, in-building e-waste collection program for large buildings.

After collection by sanitation, ERI removes the e-waste for proper and safe recycling.

“We are honored to continue to be part of this constructive collaboration and this innovative and successful partnership with the great city of New York,” said John Shegerian, co-founder and executive chairman of ERI, in a statement. “The curbside pickup program is yet another advancement and added convenience to a residential program that already regularly provides responsible, effective recycling for millions of New Yorkers’ electronic waste. It’s rewarding to be able to help so many in our city do the right thing and collect and responsibly recycle their e-waste and keep toxic electronics out of New York landfills.”