Description

• NYCHA buildings were built before source separation of residential recyclable materials became mandatory in NYC (Local Law 18 of 1989) and do not include recycling facilities. Providing residents with convenient access to receptacles for household recyclables includes strategically locating receptacles that are appropriately sized to encourage use and prevent overflow and pest infestation between servicing. In addition to recycling facilities for household recycling, smaller receptacles for pedestrian litter are provided along walkways and gathering spaces.  

Baseline

• Use NYCHA waste calculator to estimate daily volume of recyclables generated by each building. Provide recycling station with a minimum of 3 receptacles for household material streams: paper/cardboard, bulky trash, and metal/glass/plastic/cartons. Large capacity wheeled bins for each stream must be stored in locked, powder-coated steel enclosures with wide, ADA accessible apertures for resident disposal.
• Use themed trash receptacles to provide visual cues to residents regarding waste stream separation. [WM]
• Increase the capacity of recycling centers to accommodate and to reduce contamination between waste streams. Refer to the Zero Waste Design Guidelines. 
• Co-locate trash receptacles with recycling stations.  
• Locate receptacles for household recyclables in easily accessible areas for residents. [CCG] Consider the location and physical needs of waste management areas to minimize their effect on open spaces. 
• Locate powder-coated or painted steel receptacles for pedestrian litter along walkways and plazas, play areas, and exterior gathering spaces. [WM] 
• Anchor receptacles to a concrete footing with no cable or chain attachments. 
• Use themed receptacles to provide visual cues to residents regarding waste stream separation. Signage on receptacles must indicate what types of materials can be deposited into each container. [WM] 

Stretch

• Provide wayfinding signage and clear communications elsewhere on the property for residents to get household trash, recyclables, and bulk waste to their proper destination. [SA] 
• Provide recycling rooms on every residential floor or lobby-level indoor recycling room by repurposing underused storage rooms and make them accessible to all residents. Where space is available, include recycling room in scope when redesigning building entries. Room must be fire rated for at least two hours and must include ventilation, hose bib, floor drain. Door should include window and controlled access with key fob entry if building has layered access control. [COMPMOD] 
• Where organics collection is provided within a NYCHA property, consider including 4^th bin for food scraps with bins for household recyclables. 

RAD Conversions 

• Comply with Local Law 18 of 1989, which makes source separation of residential recyclable materials in NYC mandatory.  
• Provide recycling rooms on every residential floor or lobby-level indoor recycling room by repurposing underused storage rooms and make them accessible to all residents. Where space is available, include recycling room in scope when redesigning building entries. Room must be fire rated for at least two hours and must include ventilation, hose bib, floor drain. Door should include window and controlled access with key fob entry if building has layered access control.  

Strategies

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Last Updated on January 10, 2026 at 2:26 pm