New York’s e-cycleNYC program goes citywide

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and Fresno, California-based Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) have announced that New York City’s e-cycleNYC program will expand its collection efforts beyond the residential buildings currently participating.

Electronic scrap now will be accepted at five permanent collection points called Household Special Waste Sites that already serve to collect batteries, bulbs, paint and other household items. There is one such site in each of New York City’s five boroughs.

The program’s organizers also have announced that the e-cycleNYC residential pick-up component is “now serving more than 500,000 households.”

The e-cycleNYC program was established in 2013 as a public-private partnership between DSNY and ERI. The two organizations describe it as “fully funded by electronics manufacturers and free for New York City taxpayers and participating residential buildings.”

At a ceremony in Queens announcing the program’s expansion, ERI Chairman and CEO John Shegerian commented, “That our program—already providing responsible, effective recycling of electronic waste for more than 1.25 million people—is now further expanding to provide e-waste recycling to all New Yorkers is a huge accomplishment. This project continues to grow in leaps and bounds and we are excited to play a role in taking it to further heights in the coming year.”

“The e-cycleNYC program is a true partnership with support from manufacturers as well as both labor and property owners,” said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “Through collaboration and teamwork we have been able to forge the most comprehensive electronics recycling service offered in the nation.”

Through the program, New York City buildings with at least 10 units can receive on-site pickup of stored electronics, including TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, small servers, printers and scanners, tablets, e-readers, mobile phones, MP3 players, VCRs, DVRs and DVD players, video game consoles, cable and satellite TV boxes, fax machines, keyboards, mice and hard drives.