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New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse & Recycling |
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Kelli Timbrook, President
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I hope this newsletter is finding each of you healthy and staying safe during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know many NYSAR
3 members are working from home but with recycling and waste services being an essential business, an equal amount of us are still out on the "front lines" each day as well. I want to take a moment to thank and encourage everyone in all essential businesses, NYSAR
3 member or no, and express sincere gratitude for continuing to serve your community, keeping it clean and safe for residents.
I find myself asking how NYSAR
3 can help during this pandemic and am pleased to have several outlets to offer. NYSAR
3 hosts a variety of
Google Groups which serve as a real-time peer-to-peer platform for information sharing, questions, ideas and a place to turn for comfort and experience within the sustainable materials management community. There has already been a substantial increase of discussion on COVID-19 topics with more being added each day. This is a free forum for all NYSAR
3 members and I would encourage you to take full advantage of it.
With many organizations and businesses being impacted by this pandemic, another resource that NYSAR
3 is able to offer is an up-to-date web page of canceled or rescheduled conferences and events. Unfortunately, the Organics Summit planned for April had to be canceled, but will was replaced with a series of webinars.
Look out for the Organics sessions at the Annual NYSAR3
Recycling Conference in November. More information on the webinars can be found in this newsletter.
And now for some good news! With the passing of the New York State Governors budget for 2021, Governor Cuomo continued to show his support for environmental initiatives. Not only did the Polystyrene Ban pass, starting in 2022, but we also saw large sums of capital allotted for conservation and restoration efforts, municipal grants, and renewable energy. Highlights and all details can be found
here. Our legislative committee has been staying active during this time, and all our support letters and the opportunity to join can be found on the NYSAR
3 web page.
Thank you again for all your
hard work, dedication, and continued persistence in the face of this crisis. I will leave you with a reminder that social distancing does not have to mean social isolation beyond the physical sense. Take advantage of the many resources offered at NYSAR3 and beyond to connect digitally with friends, family and members of your community. Check in with those who you feel may be struggling during this time, and above all remember to take care of yourself both mentally and physically. I have confidence we will all come out the other side of this stronger as individuals and as a whole!
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Each year, the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3), and NYS Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP21) provide two $5000 awards to New York State University and colleges who are members of the NYSAR3 College Council. The grants go to campuses that have projects that focus on source reduction, reuse, or recycling.
The College Council received a variety of applications this year. Read more.
The Council is excited to announce the two winners:
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF)
"Developing Menstrual Product Accessibility and Sustainability"
Syracuse University, Assistant Professors for the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Research project exploring "Does School of Design care about the environment?"
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The Spring 2020 grant cycle has cancelled at this time. Information will be made available once the grant cycle is re-initiated. You can learn more on the
NYSAR3website.
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Due to healthy and safety concerns caused by COVID-19, the 2020 NYS Organics Summit was cancelled and replaced with a webinar series. All webinar presentations and recordings are available to view on the NYSAR3 website.
Save the Date for 2021 - We look forward to bringing the Organics Summit back next year! Mark your calendar for April 6 - 7
th, 2021 for the 2021 NYS Organics Summit in Albany, NY at the Albany Capital Center.
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We are excited to announce that our 31st Annual Conference will be moving forward on a virtual platform this coming
November (dates tbd)
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Given that our current situation requires physical distancing, NYSAR
3 is pleased to offer our membership and networks the opportunity to continue expanding their knowledge and receive pertinent information with regards to our industry, through this virtual conference. We are doing our best to stay true to the spirit of the in-person conference and networking opportunities will also be provided.
Please stay tuned to
nysar3.org
for more information to come.
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The Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations Conference has been canceled. Details about the May 16 - 19, 2021 event will be posted on the Federation website as they become available.
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NYS Executive Order 202.6
identifies essential businesses or entities excluded from reducing their in-person workforce by 100%. "Trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal services" fall under essential services in the order including collection, transportation, processing and disposal activities for any solid wastes, regulated medical waste, hazardous wastes, radioactive wastes and other associated waste categories.
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NYSAR3's Organics Council is proud to present the first-ever statewide map of food scraps drop-off locations and residential collection services for New York. While the Organics Council strives to inspire home composting wherever feasible, the group is also working to support centrally located composting operations for NY residents who are unable or not interested in composting at home.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many food scraps drop-off locations have suspended operation. Please check with your local programs before attempting to drop off food scraps.
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In October of 2019, the Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (SU-CSCS), and its local partners, co-hosted a zero-waste and farm-to-table dinner that raised awareness about the issue of wasted food and highlighted strategies that everyone can utilize to waste less food at home. See how this collaborative outreach effort came together by watching SU-CSCS's mini-documentary titled Loving Local, Wasting Less. Afterwards, be sure to share the film with family and friends, and if you are feeling inspired to take action, pledge to reduce wasted food in your home. Read more.
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Whether you're breaking out the water toys, outdoor furniture, goggles and s'more sticks, planning to recreate locally, or having a cookout at home, it's important to remember how to properly recycle, reduce waste, and dispose of trash properly this summer. Follow these tips to reduce, reuse, and recycle right this summer.
Learn more
about the #RecycleRight resources available to you!
Reduce Waste
- Choose reusable plates, cups, cutlery, napkins and straws if possible. There are many non-breakable, lightweight options you can use outdoors.
- Making your own drinks can be a fun hobby! There are plenty of resources available online to learn how to make your own drinks with simple ingredients that create less waste than single-serving beverage containers.
- When switching from spring to summer items, donate items you find that you no longer need. Follow your local rules regarding COVID-19.
- Repair summer items you find that are broken.
- Reduce wasted food and stretch your food dollars by meal planning.
- Compost food scraps if you can.
Recycle Right
- Most recycling programs can't accept single-use plastic plates, cups, straws, and cutlery. Paper serving ware is often too food soiled or covered in a waterproof coating that prevents them from being recyclable. Check with your local recycling coordinator, hauler, or local transfer station for your communities recycling program rules.
- Only recycle foil that is free of food residue.
- Paper napkins, tissues, paper towel and wipes do not belong in the recycling bin.
- Clean out ketchup and mustard bottles using a little water, shaking the bottle, and pouring liquid out before recycling them. Keep a small spatula by the sink with your dish washing supplies to clean out jars.
- Grill beyond repair? Contact your local recycling coordinator, transfer station, or scrap metal yard to ask if it can be recycled in a scrap metal program.
- Gas tanks and canisters from grills cannot be recycled in your home recycling bin. They can become a hazard for drivers during transportation and workers at recycling facilities.
- Not in the bin! Gardening gloves, tools, flip flops, goggles, pool toys, life jackets, beach chairs, and outdoor furniture do not belong in your recycling bin.
Prevent Litter
- Prevent plastic pollution and other trash from entering waterways and the environment by disposing of trash responsibly. Avoid placing trash in overflowing outdoor bins and keep a lid on curbside bins and toters.
- Do not litter disposable masks and gloves. Keep a small baggie or container with you on the go to place used items in to throw away later if a trash container is not available. Masks and gloves do not belong in home recycling bins.
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The Ballston Spa Compost Initiative (BSCI) is a networking volunteer community
service, partnering home composters with local restaurants and food scrap generators,
providing a management option when food waste cannot be avoided. You can read the Story of BSCI and see how you can get involved
here.
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Buffalo, NY - On January 20th, Mayor Byron W. Brown encouraged residents to participate in his latest public awareness campaign, called Recycling Reinvented. Recycling Reinvented is a 6-month campaign that includes targeted messaging with the goal of reducing contamination in the City's residential recycling totes while increase recycling overall. Read more.
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Sashti Balasundaram, (Founder, WeRadiate) based in Buffalo, NY won first place at the U.S. Composting Council National Conference pitch competition on January 2020 for his compost-tech business which takes the mystery out of the compost process by tracking key compost indicators ensuring health and quality of the compost product by supporting city governments and compost facilities to reduce odors, eliminate pathogens and comply with environmental regulations. Read more. |
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At Baskin Livestock, in Batavia, NY, Bill Baskin and his team are changing the
landscape for food scrap recycling! Baskin Livestock has built relationships with numerous food manufacturers, snack producers, large and small bakeries in the north- east region of the United States and Southern Ontario, Canada. They are hauling away edible food waste from close to 70 manufacturing facilities and turning it into high quality animal feed for customers all over the north- east, and mid- west regions of the United States and in Canada. Read More.
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Since 2014, NYSAR3 has worked to create a collective database that offers individuals locations to where they can properly recycle their textile materials. We have new featured collectors and updated locations that are now available to you. Check out the database here.
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As a member of NYSAR3, we want to keep you updated on where your membership dues go. This month we would like to highlight NYSAR3's $5,000 contribution to the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) to support their work related to materials management. You can learn more about P2I
here.
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Thank you for joining us last year, for our 30th Annual Recycling Conference in Cooperstown, NY! The Annual Conference presentations are now available online.
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Are you interested in receiving recycling and sustainability news, updates, and related events in NYS?
Or maybe you're interested in receiving solid waste regulatory updates, funding opportunities, and solid waste related events?
Sign up for the DEC Delivers
Solid Waste and Recycling listserv.
If there is a public event or workshop related to recycling (organics, textiles, electronics, traditional recyclables, etc.) you'd like the greater community to know about, please email Kristine Ellsworth at kristine.ellsworth@dec.ny.gov and she can include it in upcoming DEC Delivers publications.
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