Recycle or You're Headin' For the Slammer

The City of New York WasteLe$$ site (ooh, the wit in that name!) declares at the outset, "Recycling is the law in New York City. Residents, schools, institutions, agencies, and all commercial businesses must recycle." Yes, while there were cutbacks after 9/11, the policy, and so ought to be the practice citywide, is that everyone has to recycle.

Okay, the headline here is exaggerated, so sue us. Tossing bound books in the garbage can (that's a no no!) won't win you a backseat ride to the local precinct. However, it's supposed to earn you a fine, $25 the first time, $50 the second time, $100 the third, oooh it gets so aggravating, and a hefty $500 ticket for anyone with four or more notices in a six-month period.

Of course, knowing where to toss what where can be confounding. Rule of thumb: paper, plastic, metal, and glass can be recycled. The rest, well, check the Department of Sanitation's exhaustive list; it should cover most everything, including what to do with that old dehumidifier. --ANDREW BAST