Loading...Discover what happens to your household waste after you toss it in the bin.
To start, select which material you would like to follow.
Consider using reusable containers to store your food instead of aluminum foil.
Double-bag broken glass to help protect you and your Sanitation Worker from injury.
Flatten your cardboard boxes to easily tie up or put in a bag—don’t forget the small stuff like pasta and soap boxes!
This type of snack bag is usually made from different layers of materials, so they’re hard to recycle.
Ignore the number on the bottle—NYC treats all rigid plastic the same way.
These are made of steel or tin—not aluminum.
Glass is heavy and increases shipping weights, so product designers are using other options for food packaging.
Consider reusing glass jars for snack, crafts, and small items.
Cartons are the most commonly misplaced item because they contain layers of both paper and plastic.
Still getting your news the old-fashioned way? Reduce your waste by going digital!
In 2020, New York State banned most single-use plastic carryout bags from retailers.
Nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute around the world - make the switch to reusables!
A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf within just 60 days.
Not all bathroom items are recyclable—know before you throw!
Bananas are great sources of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphates, potassium and sodium. Composting banana peels helps add those healthy nutrients to the soil!
Food isn’t the only thing that can go in the brown compost bin! Dirty paper napkins, plates, and towels are part of the dry, carbon-rich “brown” materials needed to make healthy compost.
Our current Queens West 1 garage was a former horse barn!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
Our 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan eliminated 60 million miles of truck travel per year by dramatically reducing the number of truck trips.
Marine Transfer StationAfter collection, trash goes to a transfer station so it can be prepared to be brought to its final destination. Some of these transfer stations are by the water; we call them Marine Transfer Stations. On an average day, 2,200 tons of solid waste pass through The North Shore Marine Transfer Station.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
tipping floorThe tipping floor is a giant room where recyclables are unloaded into massive piles.
front-end loadersFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
lidding floorThe lidding floor is where lids are secured on containers of trash.
tugboatA tugboat is a small boat that tows, pushes or pulls other vessels. Here, our barge is attached to the tugboat by a tow line - a really strong piece of rope.
In the United States, landfills are the third largest contributor of methane gas which is 34 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide. Want to help combat the effect of climate change? Avoid the trash bin and try to reduce, reuse, or recycle!
Our current Queens West 1 garage was a former horse barn!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
Our 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan eliminated 60 million miles of truck travel per year by dramatically reducing the number of truck trips.
Marine Transfer StationAfter collection, trash goes to a transfer station so it can be prepared to be brought to its final destination. Some of these transfer stations are by the water; we call them Marine Transfer Stations. On an average day, 2,200 tons of solid waste pass through The North Shore Marine Transfer Station.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
tipping floorThe tipping floor is a giant room where recyclables are unloaded into massive piles.
front-end loadersFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
lidding floorThe lidding floor is where lids are secured on containers of trash.
tugboatA tugboat is a small boat that tows, pushes or pulls other vessels. Here, our barge is attached to the tugboat by a tow line - a really strong piece of rope.
In the United States, landfills are the third largest contributor of methane gas which is 34 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide. Want to help combat the effect of climate change? Avoid the trash bin and try to reduce, reuse, or recycle!
Many of our garages are former incinerators! Our Bronx 9/10/11 garages on Zerega Avenue were all once working incinerators.
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities—the newest of which opened in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Material Recovery FacilityA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
tipping floorThe tipping floor is a giant room where recyclables are unloaded into massive piles.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
ferrous metalsFerrous metals contain iron and are magnetic, such as stainless steel or cast iron. Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron, and are not magnetic. Common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper and tin.
The trommel is like a giant cylindrical washing machine with eight inch holes in it.
Many of our garages are former incinerators! Our Bronx 9/10/11 garages on Zerega Avenue were all once working incinerators.
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities—the newest of which opened in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Material Recovery FacilityA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
tipping floorThe tipping floor is a giant room where recyclables are unloaded into massive piles.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
ferrous metalsFerrous metals contain iron and are magnetic, such as stainless steel or cast iron. Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron, and are not magnetic. Common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper and tin.
The trommel is like a giant cylindrical washing machine with eight inch holes in it.
Our Staten Island 1 garage is a former trolley station!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities.
Material Recovery FacilityA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
Our Staten Island 1 garage is a former trolley station!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities.
Material Recovery FacilityA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
Our Manhattan Spring Street garage located in western lower Manhattan has many sustainable design features such as a green vegetated roof, use of recycled materials, harvesting of rainwater, energy and water efficiency, and low toxicity materials.
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
To ensure your recycling is picked up, remember that your paper and cardboard must be placed in a clear bag. Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and tied with sturdy twine into bundles 18 inches tall or smaller.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
When our 59th Street Manhattan Transfer station was renovated in 1990, artist Stephen Antonakos installed a colorful light installation. The artwork, known as ‘Neon for the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station,’ was commissioned by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program.
When we say safety, service and sustainability, we really mean it! Since 2005, DSNY has used biodiesel fuel from soybean oil to fuel our fleet - DSNY boasts the cleanest fleet in the United States!
Our operators see all the movements to and from our Marine Transfer Station in an office called the The Fishbowl. Important information, such as the weight of trucks and the unique truck identifier (similar to the E-ZPass system), are sent to a computer in The Fishbowl.
Each of our collection trucks can store 12.5 tons of waste—that’s about 6 times the weight of a giraffe! When our full fleet of 2,100 trucks are operating, we collect on average 12,000 tons of trash and recycling each day.
pulperThe pulper is a big vat filled with water and a blender type agitator which breaks up cardboard and paper into small pieces and eventually pulp fibers. The pulp looks like thick porridge, or rice pudding!
Our Manhattan Spring Street garage located in western lower Manhattan has many sustainable design features such as a green vegetated roof, use of recycled materials, harvesting of rainwater, energy and water efficiency, and low toxicity materials.
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
To ensure your recycling is picked up, remember that your paper and cardboard must be placed in a clear bag. Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and tied with sturdy twine into bundles 18 inches tall or smaller.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
When our 59th Street Manhattan Transfer station was renovated in 1990, artist Stephen Antonakos installed a colorful light installation. The artwork, known as ‘Neon for the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station,’ was commissioned by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program.
When we say safety, service and sustainability, we really mean it! Since 2005, DSNY has used biodiesel fuel from soybean oil to fuel our fleet - DSNY boasts the cleanest fleet in the United States!
Our operators see all the movements to and from our Marine Transfer Station in an office called the The Fishbowl. Important information, such as the weight of trucks and the unique truck identifier (similar to the E-ZPass system), are sent to a computer in The Fishbowl.
Each of our collection trucks can store 12.5 tons of waste—that’s about 6 times the weight of a giraffe! When our full fleet of 2,100 trucks are operating, we collect on average 12,000 tons of trash and recycling each day.
pulperThe pulper is a big vat filled with water and a blender type agitator which breaks up cardboard and paper into small pieces and eventually pulp fibers. The pulp looks like thick porridge, or rice pudding!
In our Brooklyn 15 Annex garage, there is a mural painted by a Sanitation Worker which pays homage to American History, with detailed illustrations of the American Flag and a Bald Eagle!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities.
Material Recovery Facility (MRF)A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
optical scannersOptical scanners are high tech cameras that use Near Infrared Light (NIR) technology to scan recyclables. NIR technology can identify different types of plastics and other materials.
baledThe process of tightly bounding waste material into cubes.
In our Brooklyn 15 Annex garage, there is a mural painted by a Sanitation Worker which pays homage to American History, with detailed illustrations of the American Flag and a Bald Eagle!
Our logo hasn’t always looked the way it does today. It wasn’t until 1929 we became the Department of Sanitation we know today, and our logo became the most current caduceus: a winged staff with two serpents wrapped around it which represents good health.
DSNYThe NYC Department of Sanitation––which you might know as DSNY––is the world’s largest sanitation department. We’ve been keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881!
SimsSims is a company that operates numerous recycling facilities throughout the city. They process 100% of the metal, glass and plastic collected by DSNY at their facilities.
Material Recovery Facility (MRF)A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is somewhere that processes recyclable materials to sell as raw materials for new products.
front-end loaderFront-end loaders are big vehicles with a scoop in front for lifting and loading loose material.
optical scannersOptical scanners are high tech cameras that use Near Infrared Light (NIR) technology to scan recyclables. NIR technology can identify different types of plastics and other materials.
baledThe process of tightly bounding waste material into cubes.
Did you know that nearly ⅓ of everything we throw away in NYC is compostable? That means ⅓ of all of our waste can be converted into a natural soil amendment or be used to create renewable energy!
What is composting? Just like food gets broken down in your stomach into nutrients and minerals, organic waste is broken down through the work of many organisms and chemistry!
Industrial compost piles can reach up to 160°F! You don’t want the pile too hot for too long or it will destroy the microorganisms eating all the veggies!
Despite its appearance, compost is not the same thing as soil! Rather, compost is something called a soil amendment—a natural fertilizer full of nutrients from broken down plants. Compost gets added to soil to help plants grow healthier and stronger!
Did you know that nearly ⅓ of everything we throw away in NYC is compostable? That means ⅓ of all of our waste can be converted into a natural soil amendment or be used to create renewable energy!
What is composting? Just like food gets broken down in your stomach into nutrients and minerals, organic waste is broken down through the work of many organisms and chemistry!
Industrial compost piles can reach up to 160°F! You don’t want the pile too hot for too long or it will destroy the microorganisms eating all the veggies!
Despite its appearance, compost is not the same thing as soil! Rather, compost is something called a soil amendment—a natural fertilizer full of nutrients from broken down plants. Compost gets added to soil to help plants grow healthier and stronger!
Discover what happens to your household waste after you toss it in the bin.
To start, click on any item and drag it into the bin you think it belongs.
Oh no! This item can be recycled! Please drop the item into a different bin.
You have misplaced this recyclable item - an easy mistake to make. Try dropping the item into a different bin.
This piece of trash is not currently recyclable in NYC. Drop the item into a different bin.
You have placed this item in the correct bin! Now, learn from a NYC Sanitation Worker what happens next.
Thanks for playing!
Remember, the story of this item may have ended but our fight to end waste hasn’t. Before our items even enter the bin, reduce what you can and donate the rest. Small steps can make a big impact.