How much of NYC recycling is actually recycled?

New York City residents currently recycle only about 17% of their total waste–half of what they could be recycling under the current program. 7.5% of our waste stream consists of plastic film such as supermarket bags. Clothing and textiles make up 5.7% of our waste.

Is it mandatory to recycle in New York?

All commercial businesses/commercial tenants are required by law to recycle. This applies to all business entities including stores, restaurants, offices, and other entities serviced by private carters. metal containers (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, empty paint cans, etc.)

Is it still worth it to recycle?

Yes. Every ton of recycled paper saves the energy equivalent of 165 gallons of gasoline, or enough energy to power the average U.S. home for six months. According to the EPA, recycling paper causes 35 percent less water pollution and 74 percent less air pollution than making paper from raw materials.

Where does NYC dispose of garbage?

landfills
The city’s trash is largely exported out of the five boroughs: About a quarter goes to waste-to-energy facilities, and the rest is sent to landfills in central New York State, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina.

What are the consequences of not recycling?

The Compounding Effects of Not Recycling

• Landfills Fill Up Faster. When recyclable items are tossed into the garbage instead of the recycling, they eventually end up in landfills.
• Greenhouse Gases Are Released.
• Toxins Can Leach Into Soil and Groundwater.
• New Resources Are Required.

How much does it cost to recycle in New York City?

It costs $300 more to process one ton of recycling in New York City than it would cost to take those same materials to a landfill. Tierney points out that all of this extra cost could be put towards something more productive, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

When did the New York Times say recycling was wasteful?

In 1996, I wrote a long article for The New York Times Magazine arguing that the recycling process as we carried it out was wasteful. I presented plenty of evidence that recycling was costly and ineffectual, but its defenders said that it was unfair to rush to judgment.

How much does it cost to dispose of a ton of recyclables?

In fact, the city must pay $79.88 per ton of non-paper recyclables as a “tipping” fee to dispose of them in any way possible (in a landfill or to a recycling processing plant). The economics are stark.

What are the benefits of recycling in America?

Every major American city provides this service. Recycling has long been considered environmentally and financially beneficial. The materials would be reprocessed and used as newsprint, bottles, or cans, while the markets for such materials would make it possible to cover the costs of collection and reprocessing, or even to realize income.