Non-hazardous Solid Waste and Recycling - New York

New York incorporates by reference the federal regulations for Non-Hazardous Solid Waste and Recycling; however, the state adds further requirements.

A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• Regulated medical waste (RMW) is material generated in research, production and testing of biologicals or health care such as:
  • Infectious animal waste
  • Human pathological waste
  • Human blood and blood products
  • Needles and syringes (sharps)
  • Cultures and stocks (microbiological materials)
  • Treatment and disposal of regulated medical waste requires a permit.
  • RMW must be properly treated to destroy disease-causing organisms prior to disposal at an authorized solid waste management facility.
• Retail and wholesale stores can no longer sell, offer for sale, or distribute banned foam containers and packaging in or into NY state (including online sales to NY customers, and sales and distribution to covered food service providers and facilities with approved financial hardship waivers.)
• New York's Returnable Container Act, more commonly referred to as the "Bottle Bill," requires a deposit of at least 5-cent deposit on carbonated soft drinks, beer and other malt beverages, mineral water, soda water, wine products (wine coolers) and water that doesn't contain sugar containers. Although commonly called the Bottle Bill, the Act includes more than bottles. A deposit is required on glass, metal, and plastic containers that hold less than one gallon or 3.78 liters.
• Effective January 1, 2022, the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law requires businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week or more must:
  • Donate excess edible food; and
  • Recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler (composting facility, anaerobic digester, etc.)

Related Information

• Construction And Demolition Debris - NYDEC
• Industrial/Commercial Waste - NYDEC
• Recycling and Composting - NYDEC
• New York's Bottle Bill – NYSDEC
• Food Donation And Food Scraps Recycling Law - NYSDEC

Citation

• 6 CRR-NY IV B 360