Where Does New York City Trash Go?
New York City is a bustling metropolis with a population of over 8 million people. Every day, these people produce a massive amount of trash. So, where does all this trash go?
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| Where Does New York City Trash Go |
The Journey of New York City Trash
The journey of New York City trash starts at the curb. Every week, residents put their trash out for collection. The trash is then picked up by sanitation workers and loaded onto trucks. The trucks take the trash to one of the city's five transfer stations.
At the transfer stations, the trash is sorted and compacted. Some of the trash is recycled or composted. The rest of the trash is loaded onto barges and shipped to landfills in other states.
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Landfills: The Final Destination
Most of New York City's trash ends up in landfills in other states. The most common landfill destination is Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. This landfill is the largest landfill in the United States.
Fresh Kills Landfill
Fresh Kills Landfill was opened in 1948. It was closed in 2001 after it reached capacity. The landfill is now being converted into a park.
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Other Landfill Destinations
In addition to Fresh Kills Landfill, New York City trash is also sent to landfills in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
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Recycling and Composting
New York City is making an effort to recycle and compost more of its trash. In 2017, the city recycled and composted about 30% of its trash.
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How to Recycle and Compost in New York City
If you live in New York City, you can recycle and compost your trash. To recycle, you need to put your recyclables in a blue bin. To compost, you need to put your food scraps and yard waste in a green bin.
Related FAQs
How to Find Your Recycling and Composting Schedule
You can find your recycling and composting schedule on the NYC Sanitation website.
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How to Report a Missed Pickup
You can report a missed pickup by calling 311.
How to Get a Recycling Bin
You can get a recycling bin by calling 311.
How to Get a Composting Bin
You can get a composting bin by calling 311.
How to Find a Recycling Center
You can find a recycling center by visiting the NYC Department of Sanitation website.
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