Does the Department of Sanitation salvage items in good condition that people leave at the curb?
A. It is not legally or logistically possible for the Department of Sanitation to operate a salvage program for reusable materials. Some reusable goods left at the curb may be taken away by scavengers, but be aware that this practice is, in fact, illegal (go to Unauthorized Removal of Refuse on page 23 in the Digest of Codes). When Sanitation trucks arrive, non-metal bulk items left at the curb are collected as refuse, while metal bulk items are collected for recycling. For more information on recycling regulations, go to Recycling in New York City.
