Analysis of New York City Department of Sanitation’s Residential Enrollment Programs - Spring

Prepared in partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling (DSNY BWPRR), this capstone analyzes four voluntary residential recycling programs—ABRI, re-fashioNYC, e-cycleNYC, and Organics Collection—to identify opportunities for expansion. Despite New York City generating approximately 14 million tons of waste annually, residential recycling rates remain low at roughly 15%. The team conducts a spatial-temporal analysis of enrollment patterns, interest levels, and operational performance across nearly 30,000 eligible multi-family buildings. Findings reveal significant under-enrollment—only about 726 buildings participate in at least one program—and demonstrate that Manhattan and Brooklyn dominate enrollment patterns, with co-op buildings disproportionately represented.

The analysis identifies operational bottlenecks, limited outreach strategies, and inconsistent follow-up with interested buildings as primary constraints to program growth. The team recommends targeted district-level outreach, improved bin installation logistics, clearer performance metrics, and multi-program enrollment strategies to increase diversion rates. Given that over 60% of the residential waste stream consists of recyclable or compostable material, expanding participation could yield substantial fiscal savings and greenhouse gas reductions. The report concludes that data-driven targeting and strengthened stakeholder engagement are critical to achieving citywide waste diversion goals and moving New York City closer to long-term sustainability objectives.

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