Legislation Would Significantly Expand NYC Recycling Program

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has introduced legislation to expand the city’s recycling program. Among other things, the legislation would:

• require the city’s Department of Sanitation to accept all rigid plastic containers for recycling (currently the city only accepts plastic types 1 and 2);

• order the department to add more than 700 public-space recycling bins over the next decade (the city currently has 300 such bins); and

• require at least one city-sponsored household hazardous waste collection day in each borough per year.

“With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day … this is the perfect time to be looking at ways to make our city even greener,” Quinn said in a press release. “We’re incredibly excited to be introducing a package of bills that will dramatically expand and overhaul the way we recycle here in New York City. Our legislation will divert over 8,000 tons of plastic every year away from landfills and incinerators. That’s equal to the amount of trash produced by nearly 10,000 people each year.”