The walkthrough

How to label your bin so it stays labeled

Two minutes, one clean surface, firm pressure. Do it right once and the address is still readable years from now.

Checked against NYC & DSNY sources · Last checked November 5, 2026

Before you start

Every official NYC Bin has a space for your address - the city includes it, in its words, "for easy identification" (NYC 311). Put the main label there and nothing looks improvised.

You'll want the label, a cloth or paper towel, and rubbing alcohol. That's it.

The steps

Clean the panel. Wipe it with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely. Dust and grease are what kill adhesive - not weather.
Peel the backing. Try not to touch the sticky side.
Position it. Set the label on the bin's address space, level, with the house number upright. Vinyl gives you a moment to adjust before pressure sets it.
Press hard. Work from the center outward for about 30 seconds, pushing air out as you go. The edges matter most.
Mark the lid and sides. Stick a small 1x4 label on the lid - one outside, one inside - and one on each side. When your bin is buried in a row of identical bins, the lid label is the one you spot first.

The mistakes that shorten a label's life: sticking it to a dirty or damp panel, pressing only the middle and leaving the edges loose, and placing it where a lid hinge or handle rubs it every day.

Labeling a recycling or compost bin

Same steps, one difference: these bins must be labeled to be collected. The label needs to say what the bin is for - recycling or compost - not just the address. Any labeled bin with a lid, 55 gallons or less, qualifies.

The rules in plain English, with sources: rules vs myths.

Don't have a label yet?

Primo Cans prints them to order - your house number big, street name small, sized for the panel - and ships anywhere in the US. Get labels.