Section 16-311. Recycling centers

a. The commissioner shall, within eighteen
  months  of  the effective date of this chapter, develop and establish or
  support the development and establishment of not less than ten recycling
  centers. Such recycling centers shall  be  strategically  sited  and  of
  sufficient  size  and  number  to  provide  for  the  recycling  of  all
  recyclable materials required to be recycled by the department  and  its
  contractors pursuant to section 16-305 of this chapter. The commissioner
  may  utilize and include among the required number of recycling centers,
  recycling centers  in  existence  before  the  effective  date  of  this
  chapter,  and  where  necessary  the  commissioner  may  provide for the
  expansion of such existing centers. The commissioner shall evaluate  the
  feasibility  of  utilizing existing recycling centers in determining the
  need to establish city owned or operated  centers.  Notwithstanding  the
  requirement  for  not  less than ten recycling centers, the commissioner
  may utilize less than ten recycling centers  if  the  recycling  centers
  have  the  combined  capacity to process all the material required to be
  recycled pursuant to section 16-305 of this chapter.
    b. The commissioner shall establish or ensure  that  there  exists  at
  least  one  buy-back  center  in  each borough. For economic development
  purposes, these buy-back  centers  shall  be  sited  so  that  they  are
  accessible   to   all  residents,  including  residents  of  low  income
  neighborhoods. The commissioner may include these buy-back centers among
  the recycling centers required  under  this  section.  The  commissioner
  shall not include material from commercial generators which is processed
  for recycling at these and all other buy-back centers in the solid waste
  required to be reduced or recycled pursuant to section 16-305.
    c.  Recycling  centers  may be owned, operated, or funded by the city,
  any agency of the city, any person, or a public-private joint venture.
    d. The commissioner may  provide  financial  or  other  assistance  to
  recycling  centers  in  existence before and after the effective date of
  this chapter, upon a determination that such assistance will further the
  purposes of this chapter.
    e. To the extent feasible, the  commissioner  shall  ensure  that  all
  recycling  centers  established after the effective date of this chapter
  shall be sited to  encourage  the  use  of  existing  rail  or  shipping
  facilities,  upon  a  determination  that  such  siting will further the
  purposes of this chapter.