#RecycleRightNY Campaign Materials

Please note- acceptable materials lists for recycling programs vary across the state based on your location. Please be sure to tailor these materials to fit your particular local program as needed.

August is dedicated to keeping batteries out of household recycling. Please use the resources below (Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, social media polls, newsletter article) through the month of August via your social media platforms, newsletters, etc. to spread the message. The post order is a suggested format to follow but please modify the order for the month as necessary to fit your needs.

High resolution images formatted for Facebook, Twitter, and newsletters can be downloaded by going to NYDEC's Recycle Right NY Flickr album. For instructions, scroll down to the heading "Free images" below. To download any images from the body of this email, right click the image and then choose "Save As".

Week 1 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: Hey New York! You have the power to keep firefighters and workers safe by recycling right! Did you know that although recyclable, batteries do not belong in your household recycling with your paper, plastic, metal and glass? Not only is this recycling equipment not designed to handle batteries, but batteries can become damaged and cause dangerous fires in trucks during transportation or at recycling facilities, putting workers and firefighters at risk. To find a drop location visit https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ #RecycleRightNY #AvoidTheSpark

Twitter Tweet:  Batteries do not belong in household recycling with paper, plastic, metal and glass! They can become damaged in trucks during transportation or at recycling facilities causing fires that put workers and firefighters at risk.  Find a collection location https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Batteries don’t belong in your household recycling bins! So where do they go when their time is up? It’s safe to dispose of single-use batteries in the trash, but because rechargeable batteries contain toxic heavy metals, rechargeable batteries cannot be disposed of in the trash and require special take-back programs. To learn more about proper disposal/ recycling for single-use, rechargeable, and lead-acid batteries, contact your local recycling coordinator https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8511.html #RecycleRightNY

Week 2 Campaign Materials

Social media poll

Facebook/ Twitter Poll: True or False. Batteries can be recycled in your household recycling bin with your paper, plastic, metal, and glass. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Answer: False. Although recyclable, batteries do not belong in your household recycling bin- they contaminate the recycling stream. Not only is the recycling equipment not designed to handle batteries, but batteries can become damaged and cause dangerous fires in trucks during transportation or at recycling facilities, putting workers and firefighters at risk. In NY, it’s illegal to dispose of rechargeable batteries in the trash and some retailers are required to take back rechargeable batteries for recycling.  Single-use batteries can be disposed of in the trash if recycling options don’t exist in your area.  Contact your county or municipal recycling coordinator for specific programs for battery recycling or visit https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ for drop locations. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Answer: False. Batteries contaminate the household recycling stream and can become damaged in trucks and at recycling facilities causing dangerous fires. Many retailers provide safe recycling options for rechargeable batteries. To find a collection location visit https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/  #RecycleRightNY

Week 3 Campaign Materials

Facebook post: #DidYouKnow New York has a NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act? The law requires manufacturers of certain rechargeable batteries and retailers who sell those batteries to collect and recycle rechargeable batteries at no cost to consumers. For information on what’s covered visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html #RecycleRighNY

Twitter Tweet: NY’S Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act requires manufacturers of rechargeable batteries and retailers who sell those batteries to collect and recycle rechargeable batteries at no cost to consumers. For info on what’s covered visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html #RecycleRighNY

Week 4 Campaign Materials

Facebook post: Reduce the negatives with the positives of proper battery recycling!  Although recyclable, batteries should never go in your household recycling bin with your paper, plastic, metal, and glass. They require separate collection and recycling programs and can be brought to retailers who sell them near you! When properly recycled, batteries can be made into new things like silverware, golf clubs, new batteries, or pots and pans! But only if you #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Although recyclable, batteries should never go in your household recycling bin. They require separate recycling programs, some offered by a retailer near you! When properly recycled, batteries can be made into silverware, golf clubs, new batteries, or pots and pans! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook post:  It’s worth putting in the energy when it comes to rechargeable battery end of life! Most rechargeable batteries contain toxic metals that can be released into the environment when improperly disposed of. Be sure to bring rechargeable batteries from laptops, powertools, cameras, and other devices to a rechargeable battery recycling location and do NOT place them in your household recycling bin or trash. Find a collection location at https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/

Twitter Tweet: Be sure to bring rechargeable batteries from laptops, powertools, cameras, and other devices to a rechargeable battery collection location and do NOT place them in your household recycling bin or trash. Find a collection location at https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/

Week 5 Campaign Materials

Facebook post: Calling all New Yorkers — YOU have the power to prevent recycling fires! In 2018, 323 reported fires occurred at waste facilities across the US and Canada, some injuring workers and firefighters. Many of those fires may have resulted from improperly disposing of rechargeable batteries in household recycling bins where they don’t belong.  For information on proper rechargeable battery recycling visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet:  In 2018, 323 reported fires occurred at waste facilities across the US/ Canada, some injuring workers and firefighters. These fires can result from improperly disposing of batteries in household recycling. https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html

Facebook Post: Did you know you can help protect fish and wildlife like trout and eagles when you properly dispose of your rechargeable batteries? Rechargeable batteries contain toxic heavy metals that can contaminate the water and soil, potentially harming fish and wildlife species. In NY, it’s illegal to dispose of rechargeable batteries in the trash and no batteries belong in your household recycling bin. For proper disposal options visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html #RecyleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Rechargeable batteries contain toxic heavy metals that can potentially harm fish and wildlife. In NY, it’s illegal to dispose of rechargeable batteries in the trash and no batteries belong in your household recycling bin. For proper disposal options visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html

Extra Posts

Facebook Post: Got an old lead-acid battery from your car, truck, recreational vehicle, or boat? Don’t put it in your household recycling or trash! Because these types of batteries can leak contaminants into the soil and water, it’s illegal to dispose of them in the trash in NY state. And while recyclable into new batteries,  lead-acid batteries require separate recycling programs and do not belong in your household recycling bin. For more information about proper disposal/ recycling options visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/86024.html

Twitter Tweet: Lead-acid batteries from vehicles and boats can leak contaminants into the soil and water, it’s illegal to dispose of them in the trash in NY. Lead-acid batteries require separate recycling programs and do not belong in your household recycling bin. https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/86024.html

Facebook post: Got an old cell phone? Don’t put it in your household recycling bin or trash! Cell phones contain hazardous materials including mercury and lead, that if improperly disposed can harm the environment, and potentially become detrimental to humans and wildlife. They also contain valuable materials that can be reused! Under the New York State Wireless Recycling Act, all wireless telephone service providers that offer phones for sale will accept your cell phones for refurbishment or recycling. It requires these businesses to accept up to 10 cell phones from any person or provide shipping for those phones. For more information visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8818.html #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Under the New York State Wireless Recycling Act, all wireless telephone service providers that offer phones for sale will accept your cell phones in refurbishment or recycling programs designed for cell phones.https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8818.html

Facebook Post: Got electronic waste to dispose of? Don’t put it in your household recycling bin or trash! Electronic waste can contain valuable material that can be reused but also hazardous material that can harm the environment. Under the NYS Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act it is illegal to dispose of electronic waste like laptops, tablets and TV’s in the trash. The Act requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling of electronic waste to most consumers in the state. For more information about what’s covered and where to bring electronic waste visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/66872.html #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Electronic waste can contain valuable material that can be reused but also hazardous material that can harm the environment. It is illegal to dispose of e-waste in the trash and it requires special recycling programs http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/66872.html

August Newsletter/Newspaper Article

Batteries- Keep Them Out of Household Recycling!

Batteries keep life powered, whether it’s our laptops, power tools, car batteries, or a flashlight- batteries are what keep our modern life running on the go. But did you know many batteries contain toxic metals and corrosive materials that can be released into the environment when improperly disposed of? These toxic metals can pollute our soil and water, potentially harming fish, wildlife and even humans. In addition, although recyclable, batteries have their own separate recycling programs and can become a hazard when they end up in household recycling with plastic, metal, and glass where they don’t belong (and will be landfilled). Batteries that improperly end up in household recycling bins can become damaged in trucks during transport or at recycling facilities not designed to handle batteries and can cause dangerous fires. You have the power to protect the environment and keep workers and firefighters safe from the hazards of improper end of life battery disposal by recycling right! 

To properly dispose of batteries take the following steps:

• Never put any batteries in your household recycling bin with your plastic, metal, glass and paper
• Identify if your batteries are single-use, rechargeable, or lead-acid batteries
• If batteries are single-use, it’s usually acceptable to discard them in the trash. Check with your local recycling program- your county or municipality may have recycling options for single-use batteries.
• If batteries are rechargeable and covered under the NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act, do not dispose of them in the trash. Find a collection location at a retail center that sells rechargeable batteries, use the Call2Recycle program, or contact your local Recycling Coordinator to ask questions or sign up for a household hazardous waste event that may accept rechargeable batteries
• If batteries are lead-acid (cars, trucks, boats and other vehicles) return them to a retail location that sells them or other collection location for proper recycling
• If you have electronic devices like tablets or cell phones that have rechargeable batteries inside, please review proper disposal for electronic waste and cell phones.
  If you have further questions about proper battery disposal or recycling e-mail pswr@dec.ny.gov

Just like a portable device, it’s in your hands- you have the power to keep workers and firefighters safe and protect your neighbors! Prevent pollution of soil and water, hazards, and contamination of the household recycling stream while conserving natural resources by handling your batteries properly at the end of their use-full life.

Other Resources

Battery Council International

• Free resources to educate about battery recycling

Call2Recycle

• Free resources the educate about proper battery recycling
• Recycling programs and locator

Avoid The Spark Campaign

• Free resources to educate about proper battery disposal

DEC Guidance on Proper Disposal/ Recycling of Lead-Acid Batteries
DEC Guidance on Proper Disposal/ Recycling of Electronic Waste
DEC Guidance on Proper Disposal/ Recycling of Cell Phones

Free Images

Free high resolution images formatted for Facebook, Twitter, and newsletters can be downloaded by going to NYDEC's Recycle Right NY Flickr album. *

Images may not be available right away. If you do not see images for the item of the month we recommend waiting a day or two and then checking the Flickr album again for updates.  

Directions to download from Flickr: Click the link to open the Flickr album. Scroll to the image you want and left click on it. The image will now be brought up on the screen by itself. In the far right bottom corner there will be a downward facing arrow with a line under it. Left click on it and choose, Original (1024x512) as the option. It will automatically download.  If you need assistance please e-mail us at recycling@dec.ny.gov.

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