DSNY reaches milestones for high-rise recycling programs

In early April 2017, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has announced two milestones for its high-rise apartment building recycling programs re-fashioNYC and e-cycleNYC with each program having collected 10 million pounds of materials since their inceptions.

Re-fashioNYC has collected 10 million pounds of used clothing, towels and linens, while the electronics recycling program e-cycleNYC has collected 10 million pounds of electronic items, such as computers and televisions.
 
“We are very thankful to our partners, Housing Works and ERI and the New York City residents who enabled us to reach this milestone,” says Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “With more than 430,000 residents having access to re-fashioNYC, and 2.3 million with access to e-cycleNYC, together we have given 10 million pounds of textiles a new life, and ensured 10 million pounds of potentially harmful electronics are recycled correctly.”
 
Since 2010, DSNY has operated the re-fashionNYC program in partnership with the nonprofit Housing Works to make clothing donation easier through an in-building collection service. Apartment buildings with 10 or more units can apply to receive a donation bin placed in a common area of the building. Residents put their unwanted textiles in the bin. When the bin is full, the material is collected and put to reuse. All proceeds from donations support the charitable mission of Housing Works. 
 
“Ten million pounds of materials being diverted from landfills is a huge accomplishment, and Housing Works is honored to have been a part of it,” says Andrew Greene, Housing Works, senior vice president of development, marketing and entrepreneurial businesses. “We look forward to seeing that amount increase substantially through the re-fashionNYC program. Housing Works is here to not only to see the end of AIDS as an epidemic but to always be a part of the global solution. We want consumers to be conscious of the world they live in [and] that includes recycling and reusing.”
 
Because of a New York state law, DSNY says residents may no longer place electronic items in the trash as they often contain lead, mercury and cadmium—harmful components that should not end up in a landfill. The e-cycleNYC program, started in 2013, permits apartment buildings with more than 10 units to have their electronics collected either with a collection bin or in a storage area. Residents place their unwanted electronics in the bin. When the bin is full, the material is collected and then recycled. 

Other options in the e-cycleNYC program include household special waste drop-off sites, SAFE Disposal events, and NYC’s pilot curbside program in Staten Island. The program is a public-private partnership between DSNY and ERI; it is fully funded by electronics manufacturers and is free to taxpayers and participating buildings.

“We are honored to have co-created this constructive collaboration and this historic and successful partnership with the great city of New York and forward-thinking manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Vizio,” says John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of ERI. “That we have now collected more than 10 million pounds of electronic waste from New York City residents for responsible, effective recycling is a huge accomplishment. Plus, the program now serves more than 2.3 million New Yorkers—more than a quarter of the New York City population. As someone who was born and raised here, it’s a humbling and rewarding experience to be able to help so many in our city do the right thing and responsibly recycle their e-waste—the fastest growing waste stream in the world today—and keep millions of pounds of toxic electronics out of New York landfills!”
 
“We at Samsung Electronics America are proud to have played a role, alongside DSNY, ERI and our fellow manufacturers, to help the people of New York City become more environmentally responsible by offering them a convenient opportunity to safely recycle their electronics,” says Mark Newton, director, regulatory and environmental affairs Samsung Electronics America Inc. “Sustainability is a fundamental component of Samsung’s business and we are committed to offering free and convenient recycling through important initiatives like e-cycleNYC and through a network of fixed collection sites, regional collection events, retail partnerships, product trade-in offerings and mail-back programs. We look forward to celebrating the next 10 million pounds of collected e-waste.”
 
Vizio’s Caitlin Sanchez adds, “Vizio is pleased to partner with ERI in New York City and applauds ERI and their partners in New York for their work in collecting over 10 million pounds of end-of-life consumer electronics from New York City residents.”
 
The milestone announcement was made at Strivers Gardens, a building participating in both the e-cycleNYC and re-fashionNYC programs since May 2015. To date, the complex has recycled 3,060 pounds of electronics, and 21,420 pounds of clothing and textiles. Additionally, in September 2015, residents began participating in the NYC Organics Collection program for food scraps and yard waste.
 
More information is available at http://nyc.gov/apt-recycling.

ERI, Fresno, California, says it processes more than 275 million pounds of electronic scrap annually at eight locations, serving every zip code in the United States.