Flickr/Mosman Council
Oct. 2, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Eastern Queens residents will now be able to place their unwanted electronics directly on their curbs for collection by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).
Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia announced the expansion of DSNY’s curbside electronics collection program today in Flushing. The expansion includes Queens Community Boards 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The program is also expanding to the Bronx.
In September 2018, the program was added to western Queens, including Queens Community Boards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9. Today’s announcement means all borough residents can take advantage of the service.
Queens Community Boards
Residents can make an appointment for curbside collection of unwanted electronic items by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/electronics. Pickups take place Monday through Friday, except city holidays and items must be placed at the curb.
Curbside collection is available to residents of 1- to 9-unit buildings. Residents living in buildings with 10 or more units can enroll in ecycleNYC, a free, in-building e-waste collection program for large buildings.
After collection by Sanitation workers, Veolia Environmental Services and ERI remove the e-waste for proper and safe recycling.
“Electronics often contain harmful materials, including lead, mercury and cadmium. We want to keep these toxins from polluting the air, soil, and water,” Commissioner Garcia said. “Our curbside collection program, along with our ecycleNYC initiative, drop off locations and special events, give residents across the city a number of options when looking to dispose of their e-waste.”
Not all items with a plug are considered e-waste. Items covered under the New York State electronics disposal ban which are included in the curbside pickup include:
- Televisions (including cathode ray tubes)
- Computer peripherals, including any permanently attached cable or wiring
- Monitors, laptops
- Electronic keyboards
- Electronic mice and other pointing devices
- Fax machines, document scanners, and printers that are meant for use with a computer and weigh less than 100 lbs.
- TV peripherals, including any permanently attached cable or wiring
- VCRs
- Digital video recorders
- DVD players
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable or satellite receivers
- Electronic or video game consoles
- Small-scale servers
- Portable devices, including any permanently attached cable or wiring
- Portable digital music players
Other mostly plastic and metal items such as fans, toasters or vacuums may be placed with regular recycling.
Residents with electronic items may also visit DSNY’s Special Waste Drop-Off locations or attend one of its SAFE Disposal Events. Both accept e-waste covered by the NYS law. More information is available at nyc.gov/electronics.
“Expanding the Department’s e-waste curbside collection program will provide Northeast Queens residents with a convenient avenue to recycle their unwanted electronics and keep toxins out of New York landfills,” Council Member Paul Vallone said. “This is an important change for my District’s senior and homebound residents, who, until now, were faced with the challenge of transporting these items to disposal events and drop-off sites.”
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