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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 this is you, NYC Trash Academy is your next step.
If you’ve missed this year’s cohort of our renowned NYC Trash Academy? Don’t worry - you can still join us in 2026!
The NYC Trash Academy Independent Study Program is now live, offering 10 on-demand modules you can complete on your own schedule. It’s the same insider look at sanitation, waste systems and civic leadership - designed to fit into your busy life.
Rolling enrollment - April 1 through November 1, 2026
Two months to complete the course once you begin.
Whether you’re a community leader, sustainability advocate or simply sanitation-curious, this is your chance to dive in, deepen your knowledge and become a part of a growing network of New Yorkers who care about keeping our city clean.
Learn on your time. Join from anywhere. Let’s talk trash!
WELCOME TO NYC TRASH ACADEMY
Now in it’s sixth year, we are offering a free learning series that invites New Yorkers who care about waste, equity, and the environment to understand how our daily habits and city systems shape the health of our communities. Together, participants from all five boroughs will explore how trash affects our climate, our health, our neighborhoods, and the future of NYC.
Created by the Sanitation Foundation, NYC Trash Academy (NYCTA) is an eight-week educational series, offered online and asynchronously, with optional in-person events. Our lessons are taught by leading experts in waste management, environmental justice, and sustainability. Through accessible, science-based programming, we offer comprehensive learning on everything from food waste and recycling to environmental justice and the circular economy. We are equipping residents with the tools to make meaningful, measurable change.
What Trash Academy Graduates Become
Graduates become advocates and problem-solvers - neighbors who reduce waste, champion cleaner streets, uplift their communities, and strengthen sustainability efforts across NYC. They shape conversations, inspire action, and help build a city where everyone benefits from cleaner, safer, healthier public spaces.
Be Part of the Movement
By joining or supporting NYC Trash Academy, you help create a future where every New Yorker has the knowledge and tools to make a lasting impact in their neighborhood and across our city.
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
What NYCTA graduates say:
“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 Yorkers as possible.
