NumberCan is a project of Primo Cans, the Brooklyn shop that makes address labels for NYC bins. Not a government site.
NumberCan How to mark your bin so it always comes back

The walkthrough

How to label a garbage can: the 60-second way

The short answer: put a printed vinyl address label on it. Readable from the street, rated 10+ years outdoors, on in about a minute. Here is exactly how to do it right.

Verified against DSNY & 311 sources · Last checked September 25, 2026

The install

Surface prep is what decides whether a label lasts one winter or 10+ years. Six steps:

  1. Clean the panel. Wipe the bin's address panel with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely. Dirt and grease are what kill adhesive, not weather.
  2. Check the temperature. Apply above 50°F - cold vinyl does not bond. Cold morning? Bring the bin into the hallway for an hour first.
  3. Peel the backing off the label.
  4. Position it on the panel, house number level. A slight curve is fine; the vinyl conforms.
  5. Press hard from the center outward for 30 seconds, pushing air out to the edges as you go.
  6. Let it cure. Give the adhesive 24 hours before the bin sees rain or a wash. After that it is rated for 10+ years of sun, rain and road salt.

Get the label

Where it goes

On the official NYC Bin: the blank white panel on the side - it was designed for exactly this. Keep the DSNY logo, serial number and barcode uncovered: that serial is your proof of ownership if the bin is stolen, so photograph it while you're there.

Cover every angle. The panel faces one way. Small 1x4 labels on the lid - inside and outside - and on the sides mean your bin reads as yours from any direction: in a row of identical bins, blown down the block, or lid-up after collection.

Recycling and compost bins are a different job. Those need contents labels (what goes in them), and DSNY gives those decals away free. An address label doesn't replace a contents label.

Other ways people do it

In the spirit of honesty: an oil-based paint pen costs about $5 and works - for a season or two, until the sun fades it. Spray paint and engraving are permanent, which is their strength and their catch: outlasts any label, but there is no undo if you move or the city swaps your bin. We make the printed label, so weigh that accordingly - it is the long-life option you can also remove, and the only one that looks printed rather than written.

Sources: NYC311 - Trash, Recycling, and Compost Bins · DSNY - NYC Bin FAQ · DSNY - Collection Laws for Residents. Verified September 25, 2026. NumberCan is a Primo Cans project.