NYC Trash Academy

NYC Trash Academy is a free educational series tailored for New Yorkers passionate about creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable city. The program explores the far-reaching impacts of waste management on our environment, society, and economy.

The upcoming 2025 course includes ten on-demand modules, three virtual office hours sessions with Academy instructors, and two live in-person networking events. Students are free to view the modules on their own or can join others in their cohort at scheduled evening Watch Parties. This year there will also be an option to attend an in-person field trip to Balcones Recycling.

The 5th Annual NYC Trash Academy is taught by a diverse panel of waste management experts, featuring seasoned professionals from the NYC Department of Sanitation and NYC Department of Environmental Protection, along with innovative minds from the private sector. Upon completion of the program, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and agency to drive meaningful change in their lives, their communities and the city at large.

The curriculum will explore topics such as:

The past, current and future landscape of trash in NYC
The origins of American “throwaway culture” and an introduction to circular economies
The role that waste and litter plays in the health of our water system
New initiatives to keep trash off of sidewalks
A focused look at food waste, the most significant diversion opportunity in our waste stream

The application period for the 2025 NYC Trash Academy will be opening in December 2024.

Click on “Stay Updated” below to be informed about the next Academy. If you have any issues or questions, please contact us at academy@sanitationfoundation.org.

Stay Updated

Explore the Curriculum

Learn about the gritty history of waste management in New York City, to contextualize just how important the Department of Sanitation is to the life of our metropolis. This presentation will also explore the historical, environmental, and social impacts of waste, as well as the origins of our current “throw-away society.”
Instructor: Dr. Robin Nagle (Clinical Professor in Liberal Studies at NYU & DSNY Anthropologist-in-Residence)
Learn about the current landscape of waste management in New York City, including the role of the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) within the larger landscape of waste infrastructure in New York City. This presentation will explore why sustainable waste management is important today: to address issues related to climate, environment, quality of life, and environmental justice.
Instructor: Carmelo Freda, NYC Sanitation’s Senior Manager of Policy and Planning for the Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability
Explore the challenges and opportunities of containerization and learn how the future of waste management will look like in New York City. This module will go over the latest plans the city has to keep waste off the streets, reclaim public space, and improve quality of life for residents.
Instructor: Francesca Haass (NYC Sanitation Executive Director of Policy and Planning)
DSNY began submitting Solid Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation back in 1992. Learn about the history of SWMPs and the biggest transformations since our last plan was released in 2006. Explore more about the role we have as individuals and how we shape the waste landscape as the city prepares for the next SWMP (2026).
Instructor: Jennifer McDonnell (NYC Sanitation’s Director of Solid Waste Management Planning)
Landfilling is the end result of a linear, “take, make, waste” model of consumption. In this module, learn the basics of a circular economy and ways that businesses and manufacturers can rethink traditional supply chains and minimize negative environmental impacts.
Instructor: Jessica Long (CSO and Managing Director at Closed Loop Partners)
Explore the fascinating world of waste and water. Learn how our city manages to continually supply clean water for a population of over 8 million residents. This module will cover how we get our water, what happens to the water after we use it, and what we can all do to help keep our water systems healthy. We’ll also take an exciting peek into the inner workings of the largest wastewater treatment facility operated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection - the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility.
Instructor: Robin Sanchez (Director of Education at Department of Environmental Protection)
Organic materials make up about ⅓ of New York City’s waste stream, and when sent to landfill produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This module will focus on food waste: the biggest opportunity for developing recycling infrastructure and programs.
Instructor: Christina Grace (CEO and Founder of Foodprint Group)
Learn about different approaches to waste reduction and diversion, from larger, city-scale solutions to smaller, community-based programs. What are the pros and cons of these different approaches? What new initiatives could be piloted and fostered?
Instructors: Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli (Co-Founder + CEO, WATS) & Jesi Taylor Cruz (Discard Studies Researcher & Zero Waste Advisor)
Explore Balcones Recycling’s Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which processes most of New York City’s metal, glass, and plastics. Situated on an 11-acre pier, the Sunset Park MRF is the largest and most sophisticated plant for commingled residential recyclables in North America.
Instructor: Kara Napolitano (Balcones Recycling)
Explore the largest construction and demolition debris (C+D) recycling facility in NYC, and learn how it is able to divert 95% of its material for beneficial reuse.
Instructor: William Cooper (Cooper Recycling)

Academy Photos