Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

#RecycleRightNY - Batteries - Keep Them Out of Household Recycling!

Batteries keep life powered, whether it's our laptops, power tools, car batteries, or flashlights - 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.

Although recyclable, batteries require 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. 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

Lets Get Thrifty

On August 17th, join thrift shops and thrifty people across the nation in celebrating National Thrift Shop Day. Not only does thrifting save money, it also conserves resources. So, while purchasing vintage and/or used wares this August, know that you're shopping sustainably!

Experience Thrift Shop Day in some new ways:

• Host a vintage-themed party: Encourage guests to dress up in thrifted finds!
• Purge your closet of clothing you don't wear anymore and donate them to a local thrift store
• Initiate an informal competition among your friends - Who can find the best deal on a well-known brand at a thrift store?
• Host a table at your local flea market

What kind of eclectic items did you thrift this summer? Let us know at: organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov. We welcome all photographs. You and your thrifted finds might even be featured in future DEC social media posts!

Plastic Free July Spotlight

Congratulations! For those who took on Plastic Free July, your challenge has officially come to an end. We hope your efforts don't stop at July and instead have only built new habits moving forward. Gerri from Owego had the following recommendations for going plastic free:

• Bring stainless steel plates and utensils to events where paper and plastic disposables are the norm.
• Remember your cloth napkin instead of using paper.
• Use a stainless steel cup (keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot) for everyday use on the road.
• Store leftover food in glass containers.

Upcoming Events

• August 9, 2019: Repair Café - Castleton-on-Hudson
• August 10, 2019: Homeowners Cleanup - Oyster Bay
• August 10, 2019: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Buffalo
• August 13, 2019: Canning Class Series - Jefferson County CCE
• August 13, 2019: Canning Tomato Sauce & Salsa - Tompkins County CCE
• August 13, 2019: Herb Drying Workshop - Monroe County CCE
• August 13 - 15, 2019: Master Food Preserver Training - Niagara County CCE
• August 15, 2019: Preserving Peaches - Chenango County CCE
• August 17, 2019: Homeowners Cleanup - Oyster Bay
• August 17, 2019: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Schenectady
• August 17, 2019: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Tompkins County
• August 19, 2019: Berry Freezer Jam - Nassau County CCE
• August 21, 2019: Pressure Canning - Ulster County CCE
• August 23, 2019: Harvesting and Preserving Fresh Vegetables - Putnam County CCE
• August 24, 2019: Repair Café - Woodstock
• August 24, 2019: Pickling - Orange County CCE
• August 27, 2019: Canning Condiments - Chenango County CCE
• August 27, 2019: Pickling Vegetables Workshop - Niagara County CCE
• NYC Recycling Events

Conferences, Workshops & Webinars

• August 22 - October 30, 2019: Master Composter & Master Recycler Course - Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady County
• September 29 - October 1, 2019: NYSASWM Conference - Lake Placid
• November 4 - 6, 2019: NYSAR3 Annual Recycling Conference - Cooperstown

Funding Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• September 16, 2019: Reduce, Reuse & Repair Grant - NYC
• Recycling Partnership 2019 Residential Curbside Recycling Grant Program - Rolling Grant Program while funding is available

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