a. Community recycling centers. No later than December 31, 2024, the department shall ensure that at least two community recycling centers are established and operational in each borough. Each such center shall be available for drop offs at least 24 hours per week, including weekends. Such centers shall be located in geographic areas that are easily accessible, including for persons with disabilities, and shall be in close proximity to public transportation and public housing developments, where practicable. Any organic waste drop off site provided for by local law may be co-located within such a center.
b. Community recycling events. No later than September 30, 2023, and annually thereafter, the department shall host no less than one community recycling event in each community district. Each such event shall be located in a geographic area that is easily accessible, including for persons with disabilities, and in close proximity to public transportation and public housing developments, where practicable. Such events may be co-located with other sanitation services. Community recycling events required by this subdivision shall be in addition to any recycling event operated by an entity or organization other than the department, provided that any recycling event operated pursuant to a contract with the department shall be considered to be hosted by the department for purposes of this section.
c. Materials collected. Each community recycling center and community recycling event shall accept, to the extent practicable, inorganic material that is not collected through regular curbside collection but that can be recycled or reused. One community recycling center per borough shall also accept hazardous material, as practicable and as defined by the department, that should not be disposed of as curbside waste.
d. Community recycling center and event information. The department shall make available on the department’s website, and distribute to each local community board, the following information about the community recycling centers and community recycling events required by this section:
1. Location, including street address and borough;
2. Contact information;
3. Hours of operation; and
4. Services provided.
e. Education and outreach. The department, in consultation with any agency identified by the mayor, shall develop an outreach and education program to inform residents about community recycling centers and community recycling events, including their locations, contact information, hours of operation, and the services they provide.
f. Reporting. The department shall report annually on the operation of community recycling centers and community recycling events required pursuant to this section. Such report shall be included as part of the department’s annual waste diversion report required pursuant to section 16-316.5. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information, disaggregated by community recycling center and community recycling event, where feasible:
1. The number of individuals utilizing such centers and events;
2. The material collected at each such center and event, disaggregated by material type;
3. The number of full-time and part-time staff persons working at each such center and event;
4. Where each type of material collected is sent; and
5. A description of the education programs offered to the public.
(L.L. 2023/088, 7/9/2023, eff. 7/9/2023)