Yisroel R.

New York State cannot reliably determine how much waste is actually being recycled because of widespread gaps and inaccuracies in the information collected from recycling facilities, according to a new audit released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. 

The audit examined the Department of Environmental Conservation’s oversight of recycling facilities between 2021 and 2023. During that period, 406 recycling facilities operating across the state were required to submit annual reports detailing how much recyclable material they received, processed and ultimately recovered. 

Auditors found that 341 of the 1,065 required annual reports, or nearly one-third, were not properly submitted to the DEC. Even among the reports that were received, nearly two-thirds were missing information needed to determine how much material was actually recycled and how much ended up being discarded. 

The problems went beyond missing paperwork. Auditors said many facilities could not provide records backing up the recycling numbers they submitted. In the facilities reviewed, documentation could support only about 21% of recyclable material reported as received, 9% of material reported as recovered and 6% of residue headed for disposal. 

The audit also found significant gaps in inspections and enforcement. Of 389 registered or permitted recycling facilities listed in the state’s system, 138, or 35%, were not inspected at all during the three-year period. Meanwhile, 33 facilities failed to submit any annual report during the period, but violations were issued to only three of them. 

The findings could make it difficult for New York to measure progress toward its waste and environmental goals. The DEC estimates that the solid waste sector accounts for approximately 12% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions, while the state has set a goal of reducing the amount of waste sent for disposal by 85% by 2050. DiNapoli said reliable information is necessary for the state to know whether its recycling efforts are actually working. 

In response to the audit, the Department of Environmental Conservation said it generally accepted the findings and would take appropriate action to improve data collection, reliability, inspections and oversight, while also arguing that the comptroller’s report overstated some of the reporting problems and disputing parts of how the deficiencies were characterized.

Tina Kim, deputy comptroller of the division of state government accountability Said, “ You want to maximize the level of recycling and ensure the people who are doing this work are doing what they're actually supposed to be doing, you can't successfully manage a program without basically having complete and accurate data.”