Schools Setup & Operations

Recycling stations should be set up everywhere waste is discarded in your school, including all classrooms, offices, and common areas.

Read our NYC Guide to Clean & Green Schools to learn how to set up waste sorting stations in your school.

Recycling Setup

• Set up recycling stations in classrooms, offices, hallways, and other common areas
• Place garbage and recycling bins together
• Label bins with decals and post signage above
• Line bins with clear plastic bags to keep them clean
• Empty food and liquids from containers before recycling

Keep the two recycling streams separate at all times – in waste collection areas, in storage, and at the curb.

NEVER mix trash with recyclables.

Flatten and tie corrugated cardboard into bundles no more than 18" high. Dumpsters can be used for clean paper and cardboard, but metal, glass, plastic, and cartons must always be set out in bags.

Mostly-metal or mostly-plastic furniture and appliances can be set out with recycling according to your setout schedule (remove/cut cables, wires and cords – put these in trash). Large, non-recyclable items (like wooden furniture) should be set out with trash.

Setting Up Your Cafeteria and Kitchen

• Set up cafeteria waste sorting stations to include (from left to right): liquids bucket, blue-labeled metal, glass, hard plastic, and cartons bin, trash bin, and brown bins
• Remove any lone trash or recycling bins that are not part of a recycling station as standalone bins attract contamination

Download signage and order decals for your cafeteria to designate compost collection areas and bins.

In schools, food scraps and food-soiled paper are placed in DSNY-issued brown bins or labeled tilt trucks. Use clear plastic liners to keep your bins clean.

Empty liquids into a bucket before placing containers in a recycling bin.

Storage

• Store all trash, recyclables, and food scraps and plant waste in a secure location. 
• Keep recycling separated from trash during internal collection and within indoor and outdoor storage areas. 
• Label all bins and use signage and decals to show what goes in each bin.

Get free decals, signage, and education materials.

Holidays and Severe Weather

Schools follow the same holiday collection schedule as residents.

In addition, during NYCPS holidays and breaks daily school collection service is normally suspended; trash, recycling, and Curbside Composting are collected on the same days as your local neighborhood.

Collections may be delayed or suspended due to snowstorms or other severe weather. If collection was suspended because of a weather event, missed collection complaints will not be accepted for that day.

Missed Collection

If you think we missed a collection of recyclables from your school, contact your local garage by referring to the NYCPS/DSNY Communications Protocol. We accept complaints about missed collections starting at 8:00 AM on the day after the scheduled collection.

If you have a service issue, require a special pickup for a large cleanout, or have other questions, refer to the NYCPS/DSNY Protocol above.