Recommendations for NYCDOS Waste Composition Study
 
MCSWAB Waste Prevention Committee
November, 1995
 
Priority Product or Packaging Category     % in MSW Program, Incentive, Legislative action
1 Wood packaging     5.00% Reusable shipping containers (incentives, tax disposables
1 Furniture and Furnishings     4.30% Vocational training, reuse shops, recycling target
1 Clothing & Footwear     2.30% Reuse centers, textiles recycling
1 Third Class & Bulk Mail     1.90% Lobby higher postal rates, legislation - mailers take back mail
1 Rubber Tires     1.80% Recycling, licensing wholesalers, incentives, deposits, retread
1 Disposable Diapers     1.70% Education, tax disposables, rebate cloth, Partnership w diaper service
1 Carpets and Rugs     1.30% Insulation - recycling econ. devel.(facility to use as feed)
1 Paper Bags     1.10% Tax (ADF), composting, charge/bag
1 Shrink Wrap     1.10% Promote alternatives - straps, reusable bungees, tax wrap
1 Major Appliances (white goods)     1.00% Vocational training, reuse shops, recycling
1 Plastic bags and sacks     0.60% Charge per bag, education
1 Trash bags     0.50% Recycling - econ. development (facility to recycle bags)
1 Paper plates & cups     0.50% Composting, legislation, taxes, charge customers
1 Books     0.50% Reuse centers, donate / barter 3rd world
1 Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases     0.40% Reuse centers, textile recycling economic development
1 Small Appliances     0.30% Vocational training, reuse centers
1 Non PET/HDPE plastic contnrs     0.30% Lobby - uniformity, recyclability of resins; City procurement
  Grocery stores -- pkged by mfr     subcat. Partnership w. business (pkg trade assns, mfrs)
  Grocery stores -- pkged onsite     subcat. Partnership w. bus. (supermarkets)
  Originating in restaurants (fast food)     subcat. Partnership w. bus. (Chinese rest., salad bars, fast food chains)
1 Plastic plates and cups     0.20% Tax (ADF), charge customers
1 Household batteries       Metals Recycling, ban from landfill, incinerator, dropoff centers
           
2 Electronics       Vocational training, reuse centers
2 Lead Acid Batteries       Recycling, ban from landfill, incinerator, dropoff centers
2 Food-contaminated paper, paperboard       Composting
2 Bubble wrap, peanuts, jiffy bags       Reuse centers, Ban, tax (ADF), recycling (ec. dev)
2 Plastic garment bags (retail and garment industry)       Reusable alternatives, Partnership w bus.(Dryclean, garment) Recycling
2 Paper Towels       Composting, tax (ADF), rebates on cloth
2 Paint       Reuse centers
2 Paint cans       Recycling, Partnership w bus. to take back
2 Pots, Pans, metal utensils       Reuse centers, recycling
2 Doors       Auctions, resale, reuse centers, landfill ban, city procurement
2 Windows       Auctions, resale, reuse centers, landfill ban, city procurement
2 Sinks, bathtubs, tiles       Auctions, resale, reuse centers
2 Fluorescent, incandescent tubes       Mercury Recycling, economic development, dropoff centers
           
3 Toilets       Export, recycling
3 Bricks       Recycling, resale, auction, landfill ban,City procurement
3 Light fixtures       Vocational training, reuse centers
3 Thermostats, thermometers       Mercury recycling, dropoff centers for residential & commerc.
3 Plastic utensils, straws, napkins       Tax, charge customers
3 Pipes       Auctions, resale, reuse, landfill ban, city procurement
3 Automotive oil       Recycling, Consumer education, dropoff centers
3 Solvents       Pollution Prevention education, permanent dropoff centers
3 Pesticides       Pollution Prevention education, permanent dropoff centers
3 Deodorant containers       Rebate for Refillables, Partnership w bus., ADF tax
3 Plastic Camera Film canisters, spindles       Partnership w business, reuse, dropoff centers

Last Updated on 9/18/98
By Marjorie J. Clarke