New York City, Partners Launch Recycling Program for Times Square

New York City and its partners are launching the city’s largest public space recycling initiative, for Times Square.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the pilot program, in partnership with BigBelly Solar, the Alcoa Foundation and the Times Square Alliance, will bring 30 new BigBelly solar-powered waste and recycling stations to Times Square, the city said in a news release.

The Alcoa Foundation granted the Times Square Alliance $250,000 to purchase the units and distribute them throughout Times Square. Times Square generates 15,300 pounds of waste per day, more than any other neighborhood in the city.

“We want to encourage visitors to Times Square to recycle so we are trying to make recycling easier,” Bloomberg said.

BigBelly units have three sections: cans & bottles; garbage; and paper. They use solar energy to compact waste, are more sanitary than the current bins and require fewer pickups, the city said. The stations will cut greenhouse emissions by 80 percent and hold five times the capacity of traditional sidewalk trash containers.

The city plans to put 1,000 new recycling containers on the streets by the end of the year.