Recycling

There are many ways for White Plains residents to recycle

Recycling many of our every day items is mandatory in Westchester County.

The City of White Plains is pleased to present many options to our residents to make recycling easy - and yes, sometimes it can be an enjoyable experience. The overall goal is to exponentially decrease the tonnage of items that would enter the waste stream when they are thrown out as trash.

GEDNEY RECYCLING YARD

87 Gedney Way
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 422-1472

HOURS *

Monday - Saturday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Residents and Contractors Allowed)
Sundays: 8 a.m. - Noon (*Residents Only)

The Gedney Yard is Not a Dump!

Rather, it is a recycling facility that temporarily stores a wide variety of items that are ultimately recycled in various ways.

Download the DPW At Your Service APP to conveniently find out how to dispose of items. The APP is available for both Android and I Phones and is in English and Spanish.

Recycling drop off areas Located in the Gedney Yard accept the following items:

Co-mingled and Paper Recycling

Bottles, cans and jars and plastics (numbered 1-7) - Rinse them clean before putting in the recycle bin.
Newspapers, magazines, cardboard
Cartons are recyclable in White Plains by placing them in your curbside recycling with bottles and cans. Gable top (half & half/juice) and aseptic containers (stock/shelf stable liquids), should be rinsed and caps should be secured before placing them in your recycling container.
Electronic Items such as radios, TV's, VCR's and cell phones
Yard Debris (grass clippings, brush, small twigs, leaves)
NOTE: Bottles, cans, and containers should be loose, not bagged, for recycling. PLASTIC BAGS ARE NEVER ALLOWED IN RECYCLING
(Return plastic bags to your local grocery store.)
For answers to frequently asked questions, Westchester County offers the following guide.

Glass Recycling Tips

Did you know that certain forms of glass are not accepted in your home recycling bin? Because of the varying makeup of different types of glass, items such as wine glasses, assorted drinking cups, mirrors, light bulbs, and ceramics (whether broken, or whole) cannot be recycled. The only glass that should be placed into your recycling bin includes glass bottles and jars.

Electronics: E-Waste Drop Off

Residents are encouraged to recycle as much electronic waste as possible.
Click Here to see a list of items that may be deposited at one of the E-Waste pods located at the Gedney Recycling Yard.

Batteries- Keep Them Out of Household Recycling!

Batteries keep life powered, whether it’s our laptops, power tools, car batteries, or a flashlight- batteries are what keep our modern life running on the go. But did you know many batteries contain toxic metals and corrosive materials that can be released into the environment when improperly disposed of? These toxic metals can pollute our soil and water, potentially harming fish, wildlife and even humans. In addition, although recyclable, batteries have their own separate recycling programs and can become a hazard when they end up in household recycling with plastic, metal, and glass where they don’t belong (and will be landfilled). Batteries that improperly end up in household recycling bins can become damaged in trucks during transport or at recycling facilities not designed to handle batteries and can cause dangerous fires. You have the power to protect the environment and keep workers and firefighters safe from the hazards of improper end of life battery disposal by recycling right!

To properly dispose of batteries take the following steps

Never put any batteries in your household recycling bin with your plastic, metal, glass and paper
Identify if your batteries are single-use, rechargeable, or lead-acid batteries
If batteries are single-use, it’s usually acceptable to discard them in the trash. Check with your local recycling program- your county or municipality may have recycling options for single-use batteries.
If batteries are rechargeable and covered under the NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act, do not dispose of them in the trash. Find a collection location at a retail center that sells rechargeable batteries, use the Call2Recycle program, or contact your local Recycling Coordinator to ask questions or sign up for a household hazardous waste event that may accept rechargeable batteries
If batteries are lead-acid (cars, trucks, boats and other vehicles) return them to a retail location that sells them or other collection location for proper recycling
If you have electronic devices like tablets or cell phones that have rechargeable batteries inside, please review proper disposal for electronic waste and cell phones.

If you have further questions about proper battery disposal or recycling e-mail pswr@dec.ny.gov

Avoid the Use of Plastic Bags!

The ban on plastic bags isn't really a ban, but plastic bags are no longer provided free of charge in most stores. This "convenience" of free bags was adding significant stress on city infrastructures, clogging storm drains, riverbeds and more. Instead of using a plastic bag, you can:

Use canvas, cloth or a durable plastic bag.
Reusable bags are more environmentally friendly than paper or plastic. Under the law, any store required to recycle plastic bags must also sell reusable bags. Keep them in your car for the next time you have to run out for groceries.
Say "No thank you." Not all items require a bag so tell the clerk, "No thank you." Carry small purchase items, like a magazine, candy, or a drink, instead of in a plastic bag.
Together, we can make a difference in keeping our city free of excess plastic bags.

Westchester County's Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF)

Located at 15 Woods Road in Valhalla, NY (914) 813-5425
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Westchester County has a drop off facility for many items, including some that are not accepted by the City of White Plains. If you are a resident of Westchester County, you may call and make an appointment to discard many of your specialized recycling. Call 211 or visit Environment.WestchesterGov.com to schedule.

[Household and pool chemicals / Flammable liquids / Auto fluids (except oil*) / Pesticides / Insecticides / Herbicides / Wood stains / Polishes / Fire extinguishers / Propane tanks / Mercury Devices / E-Waste / Freon-containing appliances / Car tires / Vehicle and rechargeable batteries / Fluorescent and CFL bulbs / Scrap metals / Documents for shredding] [*Motor oil should be returned to a service station.]

The H-MRF accepts many items that are not currently accepted at the Gedney Recycling Yard including:

Medications
Propane BBQ Tanks up to 20 lbs
Tires
Paper for Shredding
For a complete list of items the County will accept, click on the H-MRF link above.

“PaintCare Roll-Out”

Do you know that you can recycle your unused and unwanted paint?

In the wake of a law passed in 2019, a new paint recycling program called PaintCare has come to New York. With over 200 drop-off locations and growing throughout the state, this program welcomes households, organizations, schools, and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish conveniently and sustainably.

Why Recycle Paint

Some of the household paints, stains, and varnishes that we use contain toxics, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If paint is not managed properly, these VOCs can be extremely toxic to the surrounding environment and communities within. When we recycle paint right, through programs such as PaintCare, we are conserving resources, protecting communities, and playing a small but mighty role in keeping those VOCs at bay.

How To Recycle Paint

There’s no cost when you drop off paint (the program is funded by a fee added to paint sales), and all PaintCare sites accept up to five gallons per visit while some take more! The nearest drop-off site can be found on PaintCare’s online locator tool at www.paintcare.org where you can also find the list of items the program does and does not accept.

DIY tips:

Do-it-yourself for household maintenance and projects is wonderful because you are in control. You maintain creative freedom, you can save money, and you can also choose the materials you would like to work with.

In other words, DIY is a golden opportunity to embrace a sustainability mindset. When considering what to buy for your next DIY paint project:

Buy the right amount of paint.
Use up what’s left
And recycle the rest!

Visit www.paintcare.org to find a paint drop-off location nearest to you.

Food Scrap Recycling/Food Scrap Composting Program

Did you know that food waste constitutes 22% of residential solid waste? The City of White Plains now offers residential food scrap recycling as part of our continuing commitment to divert waste from incineration and increase recycling. Drop off your food scraps to:

Gedney Recycling Yard
87 Gedney Way in White Plains
Mon-Sat 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sundays (Residents Only) 8:30 a.m. - Noon.

How to Recycle Food Scraps

COLLECT your food scraps in a designated pail; all food is accepted, but should not be mixed with non-food or non-compostables, as described in the Non-Accepted Items section below. Although not required, you may line your pail with a certified compostable bag – plastic bags are not accepted in any recycling program.

Accepted Food Recycling Items

ALL Food Waste, Including:

• Fruits and Vegetables (remove stickers, bands, ties)
* Meat and Poultry (bones ok)
* Fish and Shellfish (shells ok)
• Dairy Products
• Bread and Pasta
• Rice and Grains
• Egg Shells
• Chips and Snacks
• Nuts and Seeds
• Leftover, Spoiled and Expired Food (cooked ok)

Other Acceptable Items (If in doubt, ask before contaminating your food scrap recyclables):

• Coffee Grounds (paper filters ok)
• Tea Bags (no staples)
• Paper Towels and Napkins
• Cut flowers (not landscaping waste)
• Compostable Bags

Food Items Not Accepted

It is important not to include the following items, as they will contaminate your food scrap recyclables:

• Plastic Bags
• Baby/Hand Wipes
• Diapers
• Glass, Metal or Plastic
• Pet Waste or Kitty Litter

Textile Recycling Pod

The City is partnering with HELPSY, a White Plains textile recycling company that either redistributes the fabrics or up-cycles them into other uses, rather than sending them to landfills. Drop off any fabric that is clean and dry.

Hypodermic Needles and other Sharps are not recyclable.

Bring these to your local hospital or nursing home for safe disposal.

Take It or Leave It (TILI) Shed - Open April 29. 2023 thru Fall 2023

Run by Eco Neighbors - a volunteer organization located in White Plains - this award winning shed has been instrumental in keeping perfectly good toys, furniture and kitchenware, recycled and therefore, out of the landfills. Drop of your gently used household items such as dishware, bicycles, radios, etc. for another family to use. They do not accept any stuffed toys, pillows or fabric furniture.

If you have questions regarding the TiLi Shed, or if you would like to volunteer, please send your requests to naomi000@gmail.com.

TiLi Shed Hours: Spring thru Fall*
Saturdays 9 a.m.- Noon
Wednesdays 2-4 p.m