Recycling rarely fails for simple reasons. New York City’s system is a case study in the dynamics and compromises that shape urban recycling, and why cities cannot optimize everything at once.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Bedard, L. et al. 2020 Guide to Community Material Recovery Facility Contracts (The Recycling Partnership, 2020).
NYC Department of Sanitation. 2023 NYC Waste Characterization Study (NYC Department of Sanitation, 2023).
NYC Department of Sanitation. The NYC Department of Sanitation 2024 Zero Waste Report (NYC Department of Sanitation, 2024).
Hewitt, E. L., Wang, Y., Eck, A. & Tonjes, D. J. Keeping up with my neighbors: the influence of social norm feedback interventions on recycling behavior in urban multifamily buildings. Resourc. Conserv. Recycl. Adv. 18, 200156 (2023).
Lifset, R. & Vartanian, A. How extended producer responsibility policy shapes industry behaviour and materials design. Nat. Rev. Mater. 10, 801–802 (2025).
Beyond Plastics. Follow the Money: The David vs. Goliath Battle to Pass the New York Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749, S1464) (Beyond Plastics, 2025).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vartanian, A. Why urban recycling is harder than it seems. Nat Rev Mater 11, 79–81 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-026-00890-x
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-026-00890-x
