Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter  

When many of us think of Valentine's Day, we try to think of that one special thing we can do or buy for our significant other, family member or friend. Coming to mind first is often chocolates, flowers or a romantic dinner out on the town. Get creative this Valentine's Day and think outside of that heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Handmade Touches: Skip the store-bought card and make a card with items around the house. Embroider a wall hanging or paint a picture. Ditch the big red heart chocolate box and make your own chocolate wrapped in reusable packaging. Nothing says I love you like a homemade personal touch.

Bring nature indoors: Gift a lasting memory with an indoor plant that will live for months if not years over a bouquet of flowers that will whither within days.

Repair & Re-Love: Take an old gift and make it new with a little extra care and repair. Polish and clean old jewelry, repair watches and electronics or spruce up an old item with a personal touch from an antique store or reuse store.

Get outside: Go on an adventure with your pet, enjoy a stroll through the park, check out a new hike or visit a sculpture park.

Give back: Share the love with your community by volunteering at a local food pantry, soup kitchen, animal shelter or your favorite organization. Donate clothes that you no longer wear or that you have outgrown. Find a clothing collection location near you.

Be creative or just say, "I love you" but, be good to our environment, good to each other, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

2018 Annual Reports Due Dates Approaching

• 2018 Solid Waste Management Facilities annual report forms are due March 1, 2019
• 2018 Case-Specific and Large Quantity Pre-Determined BUD annual reports are due March 1, 2019 with some due on March 31, 2019 (check your BUD)
• 2018 Electronic Waste annual reports are due March 1, 2019 via the Electronic Waste Registration and Reporting System

Upcoming events

• February 23, 2019: Repair Café - Woodstock
• February 24, 2019: Repair Café - Gardiner
• March 2, 2019: Repair Café - Newburgh
• March 2, 2019: Repair Café - Long Island
• March 16, 2019: Dare to Repair Café - Buffalo
• NYC Recycling Events

Conferences and Workshops

• March 4, 2019: They're Demanding Less Waste Workshop - Buffalo
• March 9 - 12, 2019: C& D World 2019 - Brooklyn
• March 12 - 13, 2019: NYSASWM Landfill Operator Training - Syracuse
• March 20 - 21, 2019: NERC Spring Workshop - Dover, DE
• March 26 - 27, 2019: 2019 Organics Summit: Growing Local Roots - Rochester
• May 7 - 8, 2019: 2019 Regional Recycling Impact Workshop - Massachusetts
• May 11 - 14, 2019: Cultivating Community Composting Forum - New York City
• May 19 - 22, 2019: Federation Conference - Lake George
• May 23, 2019: NYC Food Waste Fair - NYC
• August 5 - 9, 2-19: USCC Composter Operations Training Course (PDF) - Ithaca

Funding Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• February 15, 2019: 2019 Regional Impact Workshop Scholarship
• February 28, 2019: NYS DEC Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program
• February 28, 2019: NYS DEC Electronic Waste Grant Program
• March 1, 2019: NYS DEC Municipal Funding for Food Scraps Reduction, Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling
• March 11, 2019: City of Rochester Organics Collection Feasibility Study RFP
• March 15, 2019: NYSAR3 College Council Grant Program

We Want To Hear From You!

Is there a topic you'd like to learn more about or a public event or workshop related to recycling (organics, textiles, traditional recyclables, etc.) you'd like the greater community to know more about? E-mail us at: organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov