General Recycling Rules

Caton Towers is committed to recycling. On each floor, separate bins are provided so that residents may discard paper, plastic and metal in accordance with NYC recycling laws. To learn more about ways to reduce waste, the New York City recycling program and places to donate used materials, please visit  NYCWasteLe$$ at .

If you are discarding any of the following items, you must contact the Super to arrange a time a porter can come to properly handle the item:

• bulk items, such as a couch, small furniture pieces, chairs, bookshelves,
• large appliances, such as air conditioner, refrigerator, etc
• large cardboard boxes

When discarding garbage down the chute, bags should be tied on top; anything too large for the chute should be walked downstairs.

If you have questions about what can be recycled, please see below.

The following information was taken from the official NYC Sanitation Website. It is not inclusive of everything that is on the page. For complete recycling information, please refer to the official NYC Sanitation website.

Paper & Cardboard

• newspapers, magazines, catalogs
• white and colored paper (lined, copier, computer, staples OK)
• mail and envelopes (any color, window envelopes OK)
• paper bags
• wrapping paper
• soft-cover books, telephone books (paperbacks, comics, etc.; no spiral bindings)
• cardboard egg cartons and trays
• smooth cardboard (food and shoes boxes, tubes, file folders, cardboard from product packaging)
• corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened and tied)
  
  Don't include the following with your paper recycling:
• hardcover books
• napkins, paper towels, or tissues
• soiled paper cups or plates
• paper soiled with food or liquid
• paper with a lot of tape and glue
• plastic- or wax-coated paper (candy wrappers, take-out containers, etc.)
• photographic paper

Beverage Cartons, Bottles Cans, Metal & Foil

• milk cartons & juice boxes (or any such cartons and aseptic packaging for drinks: ice tea, soy milk, soup, etc.)
• plastic bottles & jugs only
• glass bottles & jars only
• metal cans (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, dried-out paint cans, etc.)
• aluminum foil wrap & trays
• household metal (wire hangers, pots, tools, curtain rods, knives, small appliances that are mostly metal, certain vehicle license plates, etc.)
• bulk metal (large metal items, such as furniture, cabinets, large appliances, etc.)
  
  Empty and rinse containers before recycling. Remove caps & lids. Place METAL caps & lids in the recycling bin; put plastic caps & lids in the garbage.
  
  Don't include the following with your bottle and can recycling:
• plastic items other than plastic bottles & jugs (such as deli and yogurt containers; plastic toys, cups, wrap, etc.)
• any glass items other than glass bottles & jars (mirrors, lightbulbs, ceramics, glassware, etc.)
• styrofoam (cups, egg cartons, trays, etc.)
• batteries  
• plastic bags

Electronics

• All types of electronics devices
• Batteries
  Label any kind of electronic device as "working" or "non-working"
  These can be left in the trash room recycling area on your floor or can be left on one of the shelves (set up in the garage at the bottom of the building/garage entrance ramp) which have been set up for this purpose.

A few important recycling pointers:

• NO plastic bags, please

  Although you may like transporting items to the bins in plastic bags, empty them and take them home. Plastic bags are not recycled by NYC. As of July 2008, large stores and chain stores with more than five locations in the city that provide plastic bags are required to provide collection bins. Plastic numbers don’t count NYC only accepts bottles and jugs for plastic recycling. Pay no attention to the number on the bottom - if it is not a bottle or jug, it does not belong in the bin.

• Cartons: wash and squash

  Cartons that hold milk, juice and other liquids go in the with plastic, glass and metal. Please rinse cartons - beverage residue can cause cartons to begin breaking down, which make them unsuitable for recycling.

• Caps off!

  Plastic lids and caps are not recycled, and metal lids and caps should be recycled as separate metal items.

• Rinse and repeat

  Be sure to rinse glass and metal food containers before putting them in the bins. Food residue attracts vermin and can cause entire bags of recyclables to be rejected at the processing plant.

• When in doubt, throw it out

  Unfortunately, putting incorrect items in the bin is harmful, even though the intention is good. If there are too many incorrect items, the entire bag can be rejected or the building can get fined.

• Food-related glass only

  Any colored glass that contained a food or beverage is recycled by NYC. That means no windows, mirrors, light bulbs, tableware...etc.