Asbestos

Asbestos cannot be discarded with regular trash. For disposal of asbestos or items containing asbestos, contact a private hazardous/chemical waste company.

Automotive or Household Batteries

Automotive and Scooter Batteries: Bring automotive and scooter batteries to a retail store or service station that sells auto batteries. If you buy a new battery at the same time or within 30 days, the $5 tax on the new battery will be waived or refunded.

You may be fined for putting automotive batteries in the regular trash or recycling.

Rechargeable Household Batteries: Rechargeable household batteries include batteries from laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras. You can drop them off at many stores, including most Staples and Radio Shack locations.

Non-Rechargeable Household Batteries: Put non-rechargeable alkaline household batteries in your regular trash.

Cooking Oil

Household Cooking Oil: Let cooking oil cool then pour it into a leak-proof container made of plastic or metal. Clearly label the container as containing cooking oil. Place it next to or in your regular trash. Do not pour cooking oil down the drain because it causes sewer backups.

Restaurant Cooking Oil: Restaurants must use a private carter to dispose of their cooking oil.

Electronics

You can learn how to recycle e-waste on the Electronics Disposal page.

E-waste includes:

• TVs
• Monitors
• Computers
• Laptops
• Small servers
• Printers/scanners
• Tablets/e-readers
• MP3 players
• VCRs/DVDs/DVR players
• Fax machines
• Video game consoles
• Cable/satellite boxes
• Computer mice
• Keyboards

Fluorescent Lightbulbs

Double bag fluorescent lightbulbs and lamps and put them in your regular household trash.

Gasoline, Motor Oil, Antifreeze, or Tires

Gasoline: Contact a hazardous material or chemical waste disposal company. NEVER pour gasoline down the drain or in a sewer.

Motor Oil: Bring motor oil to any gas/service station that changes oil or any retailer that sells oil. These locations are required by law to accept up to five gallons of oil per day, per person, for free. 

Antifreeze: Contact a hazardous material or chemical waste disposal company or check if your local gas/service station will accept antifreeze if properly packaged. The City does not handle antifreeze because it is potentially toxic to humans and animals.

Tires: Bring up to four passenger car tires to a Department of Sanitation garage. Garages are open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM, excluding holidays. You must show a valid New York license and vehicle registration with a New York City address. No commercial vehicles are permitted.

Medicine

Refer to the printed material that came with your prescription medication for specific disposal instructions.

If you do not have specific instructions, mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. Then put them in a solid and non-descript containers such as empty cans or a sealable bag before putting them in your regular trash.

Paint, Paint Thinner, Turpentine, Household Chemicals, or Tar

You can throw out small amounts of paint, paint thinner, turpentine, household chemicals, or tar in your regular trash. If you need to throw out more than a couple of cans, contact a private hauler or environmental services company.

To dispose of these items with your regular trash, you must pour any remaining liquid into a black trash bag filled with kitty litter, newspaper, or other absorbent materials. This will help soak up the liquid and keep it from leaking.

Put the empty, dry can or container in your recycling if it's made of metal, glass, or plastic. If it's not recyclable, discard it with your trash.