NYC Department of Sanitation
 2008 Spring Cleaning Events

Recycle your electronics!
Donate clothing and linens!
Get free compost and discounted compost bins!
When and Where
DSNY Composting Sites
Public Notification
Sponsors & Partners

Recycle Your Electronics

Drop off your unwanted electronics for recycling:

computers & laptops /  monitors /printers & scanners (desktop only) / keyboards & mice / TVs, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players / cell phones

Other kinds of electronics won't be accepted. Only NYC residents (no businesses allowed*) may drop off material (limit five pieces per vehicle).

While safe to use, electronics contain hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Recycling your unwanted electronic equipment keeps these hazardous materials out of the waste stream and the environment.

Cell phones collected during these events will benefit survivors of domestic violence through a program of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

Other electronics collected will be processed through a contracted vendor. No scavenging will be permitted and no tax-deduction receipts will be given for dropped-off electronics.

See when and where below. (If you can't make these events, check out other alternatives for donating or recycling your electronic equipment.)

* Businesses and institutions (if not donating or selling unwanted equipment) are required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to dispose of computer equipment  through a recycling vendor.

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Donate Clothing and Linens

Drop off your gently used clothing and linens for donation:

• Clothing: pants, dresses, shirts, sweaters, shoes, handbags, belts
• Linen: blankets, towels, sheets, curtains, tablecloths

Only donate clean, gently used clothing and linens.  Other kinds of household items won't be accepted.

Place donated items in plastic bags and tie securely to avoid moisture contamination. Tax-deduction receipts will be available from Goodwill upon request.

See when and where below. (If you can't make it to these events, donate unwanted clothing and other household items in good condition to local thrift stores or nonprofit organizations.) 

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Get Free Compost and Discounted Compost Bins

Bring a shovel and sturdy containers to take away compost. Only vehicles registered to NYC addresses can pick up compost. No commercial vehicles allowed.

NYC residents can also purchase discounted compost bins for $20 to make their own compost at home.

For info on the uses of compost, check out “using your compost” on the New York City Compost Project website

Please note: compost is only available at the Soundview Composting Site in the Bronx and the Fresh Kills Composting Site on Staten Island; see info on when and where.

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When & Where Spring 2008 (rain or shine)

Please note: for assistance on how to travel to these locations using public transit, you can use the following websites: NYC.gov or hopstop 

DATE & TIME	BOROUGH	LOCATION	DSNY EVENT
Sunday, March 16, 8am to 2pm	Manhattan	Union Square, North Plaza (southeast corner of 17th St. & Union Square West; cars enter at 16th St. & Union Square West)	electronics recycling & clothing donation
Saturday & Sunday, April 5 & 6,  8am to 2pm	Bronx	Soundview Composting Site	electronics recycling, clothing donation & compost giveback
Saturday & Sunday, April 12 & 13, 8am to 2pm	Staten Island	Fresh Kills Composting Site	electronics recycling, clothing donation & compost giveback
Saturday, May 3, 8am to 2pm	Queens	St. John's University, Alumni Hall Parking Lot (corner of Utopia Parkway & Union Turnpike; cars enter at Gate 4 on Union Turnpike & 175th St.)	electronics recycling & clothing donation
Sunday, May 18, 8am to 2pm	Brooklyn	Prospect Park, Willink Drive (next to Carousel near corner of Flatbush Ave. & Empire Blvd; cars enter at corner of Parkside & Ocean Aves.)	electronics recycling & clothing donation

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DSNY Composting Sites: Maps & Directions

Public Notification

To notify NYC residents about these events, the DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling produced the following mailers:

DSNY 2008 Manhattan Spring Electronics Recycling & Clothing Donation Event Mailer. The DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling is sending this mailer to all residents in Manhattan. (Residents of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island are receiving a different version that includes driving directions to the compost giveback sites.)

DSNY 2008 Spring Cleaning Events Mailer. The DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling is sending this mailer to all residents in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. (Manhattan residents are receiving a different version that highlights the Manhattan Union Square event.)

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Sponsors & Partners

These events are organized and funded by the DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling with assistance from the following organizations:

NYC Compost Project (www.nyccompost.org)
created and funded since 1993 by the DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling to provide compost outreach and education to NYC residents, community groups, and landscapers in all five boroughs.

Donated clothing & linen: handled by Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc.

Processing of dropped-off electronics: coordinated by Lower East Side Ecology Center, with partial funding from Con Edison.

Special thanks to our site partners: NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the Prospect Park Alliance, and St. John’s University.

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