TENANT WASTE MANAGEMENT GUIDE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.....................
3
COMPLIANT WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM..... CENTRALIZED WASTE BIN SYSTEM............................ REQUIRED SIGNAGE AND LABELS..........................
4
5
6 7
ORGANICS..............................
GMPC.......................................
8 9 10
MIXED PAPER.........................
TRASH......................................
ELECTRONIC WASTE........... PROGRAM............................... TEXTILE RECYCLING & DONATIONS.......................
11
12 13
CONTACT US..........................
PG 2
INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) is committed to zero waste practices at our properties through waste reduction, recycling, organic waste diversion, donation, and other initiatives to divert waste from landfills and incineration.
WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH OUR WASTE DIVERSION RATE!
Current Rate 40%
2035 Goal 75%
The average commercial office waste stream in the U.S. consists of approximately 77% recyclable and compostable materials , which without proper separation, are commonly disposed as trash. The purpose of this guide is to provide all the information you may need to properly sort waste materials, avoid common mistakes, and ensure
compliance with waste bin requirements and programs.
PG 3
COMPLIANT WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM
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COMPLIANT WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM All businesses are legally required to source separate, recycle, and/or specially handle numerous waste material types, as detailed in the following steps. Review this document to ensure your business follows all applicable waste management rules to avoid fines from the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY). All businesses in NYC are required to separate the following materials for recycling:
• Cardboard • Mixed Paper
• Glass • Metal
• Rigid Plastic • Beverage Cartons
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED FOR A COMPLIANT WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM: • Bins – Establish three-bin stations with designated bins for mixed paper recycling, glass, metal, rigid plastic, beverage carton recycling (GMPC), and trash. You must display enough bins to collect all recyclable materials separately from trash. • Bags – All recycling bins must be lined with clear bags or collected loose within collection equipment. Trash must be collected in black, opaque bags. Cardboard must be flattened and buddled, baled, or bagged in clear liners. • Labels – All waste bins must be labeled to clarify which materials they hold. Recycling bin labels must specify accepted materials (i.e., glass, metal, rigid plastic, and beverage cartons or mixed paper recycling). • Signage – Post detailed signage in all areas where waste is routinely disposed, including all customer, staff, storage, and maintenance areas. Signage must indicate which materials need to be separated and how those materials are collected or stored.
All non-compliance points (i.e. unlabeled bins, improperly sorted material) are subject to violations from the DSNY. Violations start at $100 per offense.
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PG 4
CENTRALIZED WASTE BIN SYSTEM
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CENTRALIZED WASTE BIN SYSTEM There must be at least three bins stationed together at each waste disposal station: one for mixed paper recycling; one for glass, metal, rigid plastic, and beverage carton (GMPC) recycling; and one for trash. Color coded bins are not required but encouraged to improve waste stream association. We recommend using the NYC regional color scheme for waste streams which is green for mixed paper, blue for GMPC, and black/grey for trash.
Mixed Paper (Green)
GMPC (Blue)
Trash (Black or Grey)
Mixed Paper (Clear)
GMPC (Clear)
Trash (Black)
* If you notice your bins are not lined compliantly, please contact your cleaning provider or property management team to remedy this error.
CENTRALIZED WASTE STATIONS VERSUS DESK-SIDE BINS
ESRT advises all tenants to implement centralized waste stations in their spaces. Centralized waste means the removal of all deskside bins and the installation of a dedicated system of communal trash, paper recycling, GMPC recycling, and organic waste (where applicable) located in strategic areas throughout the office. Positive impacts of implementation include increased waste diversion rates; reduced single use plastic liner generation; improved employee health, wellbeing, and retention; improved management of program compliance; and enhanced overall employee productivity.
It is required by law to have co-located trash, mixed paper, and GMPC recycling bins to capture all designated materials for recycling. Neither single deskside bins nor dual deskside bins (trash and paper recycling) are complaint as there are not a sufficient number of bins to capture all designated recyclables separately. If your space has deskside bins and you would like to set up a centralized waste system program, please contact ESRT sustainability or property management. We will identify strategic locations for centralized bin stations, provide an employee notification memo template, signage, and communicate with cleaning staff for your transition. To learn more about the benefits of a centralized waste system click here .
PG 5
REQUIRED SIGNAGE AND LABELS
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REQUIRED SIGNAGE AND LABELS
It is required by law to label all waste containers to clarify which material type(s) the container collects. The commonly seen blue or green recycling bins with the white arrows, shown on the right, are not compliant. Labels must specify paper, glass, metal, rigid plastic, or beverage carton recycling.
Here are some waste label companies that provide compliant labeling: RecycleAcrossAmerica NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Business Labels Signage must also be posted in public and staff areas, such as pantries, to describe compliant material separation.
DOWNLOAD NYC COMPLIANT WASTE SIGNAGE BELOW:
GLASS, METAL, PLASTICS, CARTONS
PAPER
ORGANICS COMPOST
TRASH (WITH ORGANICS PROGRAM)
TRASH (WITHOUT ORGANICS PROGRAM)
PG 6
ORGANICS
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ORGANICS
40% of commercial waste is divertible organic material. Since organic material cannot properly break down in landfills it will emit methane, a power greenhouse gas approximately 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide. ESRT offers complimentary organic waste pickup five days a week (Monday – Friday) for all tenants. To begin your organics diversion program: 1. Implement additional lidded bins labeled for organic waste within existing bin stations for trash, mixed paper recycling, and GMPC recycling, especially in pantries where food disposal is highest. 2. Notify your property management team you would like to begin participation and they will facilitate the daily removal and re-line the bin with green bio liners free of charge. It is important to note that no new waste is generated with organic program implementation. When businesses collect organic material separately, trash is easier to handle and recyclables are less contaminated by food.
Organics
FOOD SCRAPS
COFFEE GROUNDS & TEA BAGS
PLANT TRIMMINGS
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
NON-EDIBLE ORGANIC & PLANTS • Flowers • Floral trimmings • Leaves and plants • Potting soil • Coffee grinds
FOOD-SOILED PAPER PRODUCTS • Used napkins • Soiled tissues • Used paper towels • Used paper plates (Non-coated) • Soiled paper bags
FOOD • Fruits, vegetables, and beans • Meat and poultry • Seafood and shellfish • Bones • Bread and bakery foods • Grains, pasta, and rice • Cheese • Fats, oils, and salad dressing • Plastics (Rigid and film plastics) • Glossy or coated paper UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• Tea bags • Eggshells
• Wooden stirrer sticks • Bamboo chopsticks
• Compostable containers
• Non-compostable containers • Produce stickers
(Including BPI certified containers)
PG 7
GMPC RECYCLING
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GLASS, METAL, RIGID PLASTIC, AND BEVERAGE CARTON (GMPC) RECYCLING In New York City, businesses must recycle metal, glass jars and bottles, rigid plastics, and beverage cartons together in a labeled bin with a clear plastic bag. The recycling number on rigid plastics does not matter. IMPORTANT: EMPTY AND RINSE CONTAINERS BEFORE RECYCLING. ALL LIQUIDS MUST BE DRAINED BEFORE RECYCLING. IT MAKES IT EASIER TO PROCESS AND IS LESS ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS AND ROACHES.
Empty + Clean
METAL, CANS, ALUMINUM FOIL
RIGID PLASTIC
GLASS JARS AND BOTTLES
BEVERAGE CARTONS
✓
RIGID PLASTIC VERSUS FILM PLASTIC Rigid plastics CAN be recycled . Rigid plastics are items that are relatively inflexible and maintain their shape or form when bent. This includes food and drink containers, caps and lids, and cups and bowls. Plastic film CANNOT be recycled and belongs either in the trash or a specific film plastic recycling bin that can be found at certain stores, shopping malls, and most grocery stores. Plastic film is a thin, flexible polymeric material that is often used for food packaging, grocery bags, bubble wrap, snack/candy wrappers, chip bags, and more.
BEVERAGE CARTONS Recycle beverage and liquid food cartons like milk and soup cartons or juice boxes in the GMPC bin. These products are lined with a plastic film to make them leak proof and belong in the GMPC bin. Do NOT recycle these containers with your mixed paper.
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• Rigid plastic food containers (Such as yogurt, fruit, deli or hummus containers, dairy tubs, and other plastic take-out containers) • Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars • Rigid plastic caps and lids • Coffee cups, soup containers, and all other plastic-lined paper containers • Dirty containers/cups • Styrofoam
• Rigid plastic non-food containers • Metal cans • Metal soda cans or glass bottles • Aluminum foil wrap and trays • Empty glue sticks or bottles • Juice boxes/cartons • Plastic films • Plastic bags • Plastic wrap • Plastic air pillow from shipments
• Milk cartons • Scissors • Plastic straws • Plastic utensils and plates • Drained containers and bottles
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• Bubble wrap • Plastic straw wrappers • Chip bags • Plastic candy wrapper
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
PG 8
MIXED PAPER
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MIXED PAPER
In New York, you must recycle mixed paper together in a labeled bin with a clear plastic bag. Always flatten cardboard next to bins. Large flattened cardboard items may be placed in the freight area. The paper material must be clean and dry to be recycled. If wet or dirty, it belongs in the trash.
Clean + Dry
MAIL, PAPERBOARD, PRINTER PAPER, FOLDERS
NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINES, PAPER BAGS
CARDBOARD
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• Food-soiled paper • Napkins, paper towels and tissues (Used and unused) • Paper cups or plates, soup cups, and all other plastic-coated paper products (Used coffee and tea cups) • Foam products (Styrofoam, packaging peanuts) • Paper soiled with food or liquid • Paper with a lot of tape or glue
• Plastic- or wax-coated paper (Candy wrappers, take-out containers, etc.) • Photographs • Food-soiled paper bags • Diapers, feminine hygiene products, and wet wipes
• Flattened cardboard boxes • Newspapers, magazines, catalogs • Paper (Staples are okay)
• Paper, shredded • Paper bags, clean • Paperboard
(Food and shoe boxes, tubes, file folders, cardboard from product packaging)
• Envelopes
(Including window envelopes)
PG 9
TRASH
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TRASH
If an item is unacceptable in the mixed paper, glass, metal, rigid plastics, beverage carton recycling, or organic bins, it belongs in the trash.
Non-recyclable / Non-organics
PLASTIC FILM, WRAPPERS, PLASTIC BAGS
FOAM PRODUCTS
COATED PAPER
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• No-rip Tyvek envelopes • Styrofoam packaging material and peanuts • Hard styrofoam blocks • Styrofoam coffee cups • Rubber bands • Twist ties • Pens • Plastic wrap, wrappers, plastic bags, chip bags, candy wrappers
• Liquids • Rechargeable batteries • Electronics and electronic accessories • Textiles • Fluorescent lightbulbs • Construction and demolition waste wrappers
PG 10
ELECTRONIC WASTE PROGRAM
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ELECTRONIC WASTE PROGRAM ESRT offers complimentary electronic waste pickup on a quarterly basis. In New York, it is illegal to dispose of electronics in the garbage. Electronic waste is a regulated, potentially hazardous material type and must be recycled with a certified hauler. To participate, ESRT recommends having a labeled collection bin near your IT or similar department for your colleagues to properly dispose of any electronic waste. ESRT will notify each tenant of the pickup date and will collect to ensure proper disposal.
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• Cable/satellite boxes • Laptops • PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants) • Printers • Appliances (Small)
• Monitors (LCD) • Photocopiers
• Network switches • Tablets • Video game equipment • Stereos/radios • Wires/cables • Rechargeable batteries (Cell phone, laptop)
• Projectors • Scanners • Speaker system • Cell phones • Electronic Parts/Components
• Desktop/PCs/Towers • Microwaves/toasters
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS:
• Ballasts • Large appliances
• Smoke detectors • CRT devices with broken glass • Non-rechargeable batteries
• Fluorescent/halogen bulbs • Refrigerators • Other hazardous wastes
(Washers, dryers, dishwashers)
PG 11
TEXTILE RECYCLING AND DONATIONS
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If textiles make up more than 10% of your business’s waste during any month in a 12-month period, you are required by law to donate or recycle all textile waste. Textile materials include fabric scraps, clothing, belts, bags, and shoes. Please reach out to Great Forest, our waste consultant, to begin a program. TEXTILE RECYCLING
DONATIONS
By donating materials for reuse, businesses have the power to make a significant impact as they turn potential waste into valuable resources for others. This practice saves money on waste disposal, hauling, and storage costs and allows a tax deduction for charitable donations. Donations can include excess food, furniture, appliances, and office materials. ESRT can connect you to organizations who accept donations. Take pictures of what is available for donation and provide details like the quantity of items, and the date, time, and location for pickup. Contact your property management team when a potential donation arises.
PG 12
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
ON-SITE TEAM
1333 Broadway
111 W 33 RD Street
1350 Broadway
501 Seventh Ave
1359 Broadway
250 W 57 TH Street
1400 Broadway
One Grand Central Place
Empire State Building
SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
Dana Robbins Schneider
Jessica Weir
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP TO ACHIEVE OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS!
ESRTREIT.com
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