NYC Sanitation Exam 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NYC recycling rules, which of the following plastics is generally accepted for curbside recycling?
- Plastic bags
- Styrofoam containers
- Rigid plastic bottles and jugs (Correct answer)
- Plastic wrap
Correct answer: Rigid plastic bottles and jugs
NYC accepts rigid plastic bottles and jugs (typically #1 and #2) for curbside recycling, not flexible plastics.
Question 2: A property owner in NYC who repeatedly fails to comply with sanitation code regulations may face:
- A warning letter only
- Criminal charges and jail time
- Escalating fines and possible legal action (Correct answer)
- Mandatory community service
Correct answer: Escalating fines and possible legal action
Repeat sanitation violations result in escalating fines and can lead to civil legal proceedings against the property owner.
Question 3: What does 'universal collection' mean in the context of NYC's commercial waste reform?
- All residents get the same pickup schedule
- Private carters must serve any business that requests service (Correct answer)
- A single city agency collects all waste types
- Commercial waste is collected on all days including weekends
Correct answer: Private carters must serve any business that requests service
Universal collection means licensed private carters are required to serve any commercial customer within their zone.
Question 4: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is MOST critical for a NYC sanitation worker during nighttime collection?
- Hard hat
- High-visibility reflective vest (Correct answer)
- Dust mask
- Knee pads
Correct answer: High-visibility reflective vest
A high-visibility reflective vest is most critical at night to ensure workers are seen by passing vehicles.
Question 5: NYC's 'zero waste' goal aims to send how much waste to landfills by 2030?
- 50% reduction
- 75% reduction
- Zero — no waste to landfills (Correct answer)
- 25% reduction
Correct answer: Zero — no waste to landfills
NYC's Zero Waste to Landfill goal targets sending no solid waste to landfills by 2030.
Question 6: When operating a collection truck in a school zone during restricted hours, a NYC sanitation driver must:
- Sound the horn to alert pedestrians
- Reduce speed and exercise extra caution (Correct answer)
- Park the truck and collect by hand only
- Skip the zone and return after hours
Correct answer: Reduce speed and exercise extra caution
Drivers must reduce speed and exercise heightened caution in school zones during restricted hours.
Question 7: Organic waste collection in NYC (curbside composting) became mandatory for all residents citywide in:
- 2018
- 2020
- 2023 (Correct answer)
- 2025
Correct answer: 2023
NYC's mandatory curbside composting program expanded citywide and became mandatory for all residents in 2023.
NYC Sanitation Exam 3
Under NYC recycling rules, which of the following plastics is generally accepted for curbside recycling?