2027 Registration Opens December 3, 2026 - Sign-up for more details
Orientation - January 25, 2027
Graduation - March 8, 2027
Already enrolled in Independent Study? Log-in here
Sanitation is part of everyday life, yet most New Yorkers know little about where their waste goes or how the system works. Trash Academy builds understanding, encourages better choices, and creates informed advocates for a cleaner city.
Now entering its 7th year, it continues to provide a strong base of engaged New Yorkers who become long-term supporters and donors.
Have you ever wondered…
How does NYC handle 44 million pounds of trash every day?
Can less waste actually make neighborhoods safer and healthier?
What would happen if thousands of New Yorkers became sustainability leaders?
If the answer is YES, NYC Trash Academy is for you!
NYC TRASH ACADEMY 2027
The FREE learning series invites New Yorkers who are curious about waste, their neighborhoods, and the environment to learn how daily habits and city systems shape the health of our communities.
Participants from all five boroughs explore how the things we throw away affect our health, our safety, and the future of NYC.
Created by the Sanitation Foundation, NYC Trash Academy is an 8-week series, offered online and asynchronously, with optional in-person events. Lessons are taught by professional experts in their fields.
You’ll learn everything from how to limit food waste and what happens to your recycling to why environmental justice and the circular economy matter.
Graduates Become advocates and problem-solvers—neighbors who reduce waste, champion cleaner streets, uplift their communities, and strengthen sustainability efforts across NYC. Many have gone on to join our network of Community Stewards, which brings together groups from around NYC who are dedicated to making their neighborhoods cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable.
NEW for 2027:s NEW content :
Recycling 101
On the Streets with a Sanitation Worker
More Environmental Justice perspectives embedded throughout
Please consider supporting NYC Trash Academy with a donation - Your gifts directly fund the continued training of the next generation of community stewards and clean-city ambassadors, improving the quality of life across the city.
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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
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Take a look behind the scenes at how the world’s largest sanitation workforce keeps NYC running. Learn about a variety of essential DSNY programs, from waste collection, to street cleaning, to snow removal. This presentation will also explore the dangers of sanitation work, as well as the role of DSNY in disaster recovery efforts.
Instructor: Michael Marrero, Deputy Chief, Operations Management Division, NYC Department of Sanitation
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DSNY is overhauling the City's commercial waste industry to make NYC cleaner and safer. Mandated under Local Law 199 of 2019, Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) creates a regulatory framework to establish new safety standards for workers in the commercial carting industry, improving service for businesses, and reducing harmful emissions from waste hauling vehicles. Learn about the timeline, challenges, and significance of implementing this program.
Instructor: Monica Hanley, Senior Advisor, NYC Department of Sanitation
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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: Rebecca Kriegman, Chief of Staff and Assistant Commissioner of Policy & Planning, NYC Department of Sanitation
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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.
Instructors:
Jessica Long, CSO and Managing Director at Closed Loop Partners
Alissa Westervelt, Operations Lead, Donations & Reuse, Solid Waste Management, NYC Department of Sanitation
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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: Jen McDonnell, Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, NYC Department of Sanitation
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Learn about the environmental, health, and safety impacts of electronic waste. This presentation will also explore how DSNY manages electronic waste, and how it works with a company called ERI to repair, refurbish, and recycle these valuable materials.
Instructors:
David Hirschler, Chief Sustainability Officer at ERI
Kate Kitchener, Director, Resource Recovery, NYC Department of Sanitation
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Learn about the environmental and social impacts of textile waste, as well as the DSNY programs and partnerships aimed at diverting textiles and clothing from the waste stream.
Instructors:
Tsering Lama, Operations Lead, Resource Recovery Division, NYC Department of Sanitation
Alissa Westervelt, Operations Lead, Donations & Reuse, Solid Waste Management, NYC Department of Sanitation
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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, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
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Learn about how waste management practices can contribute to environmental injustices, and how certain parts of NYC are affected by waste more than others. You will also explore how everyone in NYC can play a role in advocating for environmental justice.
Instructor: Daniel Chu, Environmental Justice Researcher and Urban Studies Faculty, City University of New York
Explore the Curriculum
Reviews:
“This is the most fun I've ever had learning something new.”
Julian C.
Customer Success, Brooklyn
“I thoroughly enjoyed the courses and learned a lot.”
Cathleen I.
Unemployed, Staten Island
“I absolutely loved this program! It has changed how I see the world.”
Shea C.
Healthcare Professional, Manhattan
“I enjoyed this program immensely and learned about the actions being taken by New York City.”
Evelyn R.
Retired, Bronx
FAQs
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You will need to complete the following to graduate and obtain a certificate of completion:
View all 10 virtual modules
Complete brief assignments for each module
All modules can be completed on your own time and schedule, though a pacing guide will be provided.
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There are a total of 10 virtual modules for participants to complete asynchronously. The models range from 20 minutes to 1 hour.
Each module also includes short quizzes and discussion questions, which are required for completion.
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While it is not necessary to watch the modules in any particular order, we will provide a suggested pacing and order on the learning portal.
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Once you’ve been accepting into NYC Trash Academy, you will be emailed instructions for setting up your account on our learning portal (LearnWorlds).
All of the modules, quizzes, forums, and supplemental resources can be accessed in the portal.
We recommend bookmarking the learning portal or returning to this page and clicking the Log In button at the top to continue accessing the portal.
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Reach out to us at academy@sanitationfoundation.org. We’re happy to help!
Spread the Word
A social media post, highlight in a newsletter, or email to your networks can go a long way in helping us bring this free program to as many New orkers as possible.
