#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

October is dedicated to non-container glass, ceramics, and pottery and helping residents understand that only glass bottles and jars can go in household recycling programs. Please use the resources below (Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, social media polls, newsletter article) through the month of October 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

Social media polls

Facebook Poll: True or False. Glass/ ceramic items found in your kitchen such as plates, cups, bowls, drinking glasses, mugs, cooking/ baking glass (measuring cups, pie plates, casserole dishes, mixing bowls) can be recycled in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: True or False. Glass/ ceramic items found in your kitchen such as plates, cups, bowls, drinking glasses, mugs, cooking/ baking glass (measuring cups, pie plates, casserole dishes, mixing bowls) can be recycled in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Answer: False! When it comes to glass, not all glass is recyclable in local recycling programs. Only glass bottles and jars are accepted. All other glass, ceramics, or pottery have a different melting point and chemical composition which can contaminate glass recycling or weaken recycled glass. This can include ceramic, plates, cups, flower pots, drinking glasses, mugs, light bulbs, wine glasses, mirror, window pane, broken glass, cooking/ baking glass( measuring cups, pie plates, casserole dishes, mixing bowls), glass home décor and flower vases. These items do not belong in your home recycling program. Consider donating gently used items and never put any broken glass in recycling programs. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Answer: False! Only glass bottles and jars are accepted in recycling programs. All other glass, ceramics, or pottery have a different melting point/ composition and should be upcycled, donated or go to the trash to avoid contamination/ weakening of recycled glass. #RecycleRightNY

Week 2 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: Let’s be clear! Just because it’s glass does not mean it can go in your recycling. When it comes to glass- only glass bottles and jars belong in recycling programs. All other glass items should be donated if in good shape, reused, repurposed, or carefully disposed of in the trash. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Let’s be clear! Just because it’s glass does not mean it can go in your recycling. Only glass bottles and jars belong in recycling programs. All other glass items should be donated if in good shape, reused, repurposed, or disposed of in the trash. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Let’s make a toast to glass recycling! Wine glasses, champagne glasses and other drinking glasses don’t belong in your recycling! Only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Let’s make a toast to glass recycling! Wine glasses, champagne glasses and other drinking glasses don’t belong in your recycling! Only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Week 3 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: Give recycling a break! Broken glass doesn’t belong in your recycling. Broken glass can injure workers and sorting equipment isn’t designed to handle small pieces of glass. Broken glass should be carefully disposed of in the trash. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Give recycling a break! Broken glass doesn’t belong in your recycling. Broken glass can injure workers and sorting equipment isn’t designed to handle small pieces of glass. Broken glass should be carefully disposed of in the trash. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: It’s easy as pie to recycle glass the right way! Only glass bottles and jars should go in our recycling bins. Items like measuring cups, pie plates, and baking dishes don’t belong in home recycling programs. This glass has a different melting point and composition than bottles and jars and can contaminate glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: It’s easy as pie to recycle glass the right way! Only glass bottles and jars should go in the recycling. Items like measuring cups, pie plates, and baking dishes don’t belong in home recycling programs. #RecycleRightNY

Week 4 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: We can barely contain our excitement to tell you- only container glass from bottles and jars belong in your recycling! All other glass has a different melting point and chemical composition which can contaminate glass recycling or weaken recycled glass. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: We can barely contain our excitement to tell you- only container glass from bottles and jars belong in your recycling! All other non-container glass has a different melting point/ chemical composition which can contaminate glass recycling or weaken recycled glass. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Wake up and smell the flowers! Glass and ceramic flower vases and pots don’t belong in your household recycling. These items have a different composition and melting point than glass bottles and jars and can contaminate glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Wake up and smell the flowers! Glass and ceramic flower vases and pots don’t belong in your household recycling. These items have a different composition and melting point than glass bottles and jars and can contaminate glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Week 5 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: Don’t contaminate:  reuse, up-cycle or donate! Glass and ceramic items like drinking glasses, dinner plates, bowls, casserole dishes, pie plates, mirrors, and other glass home goods don’t belong in your recycling! #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Don’t contaminate: reuse, up-cycle or donate! Glass and ceramic items like drinking glasses, dinner plates, bowls, casserole dishes, pie plates, mirrors, and other glass home goods don’t belong in your recycling! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Windows are a pain for recycling programs! Window panes don’t belong in your recycling. This glass has a different melting point and composition than bottles and jars and can contaminate glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Windows are a pain for recycling programs! Window panes don’t belong in your recycling. This glass has a different melting point and composition than bottles and jars and can contaminate glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Extra Posts

Facebook Post: Pint glasses belong at friendly gatherings, not in your recycling! When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Pint glasses belong at friendly gatherings, not in your recycling! When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Sip on this! Drinking glasses don’t belong in your recycling. When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Sip on this! Drinking glasses don’t belong in your recycling. When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Not all glass gets a pass in your recycling bin! When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Not all glass gets a pass in your recycling bin! When it comes to glass, only glass bottles and jars belong in your local recycling program. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: We don’t want to spook you but here’s a scary fact! When it comes to glass- only bottles and jars belong in your home recycling program. Other types of glass have a different melting point/ composition and you could be contaminating glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: We don’t want to spook you but here’s a scary fact! When it comes to glass- only bottles and jars belong in your home recycling program. Other types of glass have a different melting point/ composition and you could be contaminating glass recycling. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Don’t forget to return glass bottles with a deposit to a local redemption center! Because bottle bill glass is generally cleaner and is already separated it makes glass recycling more efficient, making it easier for your glass to be turned into things like new bottles or home insulation. This glass is also recycled at no cost to local governments! For more information visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/57687.html #RecycleRightNY

October Newsletter/Newspaper Article

Let’s Be Clear! Not All Glass Belongs in Your Recycling

Glass is an amazing material.  It’s made from readily available natural resources and can be recycled endlessly. It can be used as a container for holding food, liquids, and other materials and can be found throughout our lives, whether it’s a smart phone, windows at home, a drinking glass or a jar of jam. When glass is recycled it reduces emissions, saves energy, and conserves natural resources compared to using raw materials. But did you know- not all glass can be recycled in your local recycling program? Just because something is glass does not mean it can go in your home recycling bin!

What glass should I be putting in the recycling bin?

The only glass you should be putting in the recycling bin are glass bottles and jars.  All other glass, ceramics, or pottery cannot go in your local recycling program. This includes but is not limited to plates, cups, flower pots, drinking glasses, mugs, light bulbs, wine glasses, mugs, mirrors, window pane, broken glass, cooking/ baking glass (measuring cups, pie plates, casserole dishes, mixing bowls), glass home décor, flower vases and more. Only container glass such as bottles and jars belong in your recycling bin!

How come I can only put glass bottles and jars in the recycling bin?

Drinking glasses, flower vases, mirrors etc. have a different melting point and chemical composition than bottles and jars. If these materials are mixed with glass from bottles and jars it can contaminate glass recycling or weaken recycled glass which hurts recycling programs.

Then what can I do with glass that is not a bottle or jar?

Don’t contaminate, reuse, up-cycle or donate! Gently used glass, ceramic, and pottery items like drinking glasses, dinner plates, bowls, casserole dishes, pie plates, mirrors, and other glass home goods can be donated to charitable organizations, thrift shops, and other people who can use them. Also consider reuse! Teacups make nice planters for succulents, cups and bowls can be used for pet food and other containers, and a dull terracotta flower pot can make a thoughtful gift with a little paint and creativity. If your items cannot be donated or reused, carefully dispose of them in the trash- and remember, no broken glass should ever go in your recycling bin either.

What about glass bottles with a deposit on them?

Some glass beverage bottles are part of NY’s Returnable Container Act (also known as the Bottle Bill) and have a deposit associated with them. These glass bottles can be returned for recycling at local redemption centers. Because Bottle Bill glass is generally cleaner and is already separated it makes glass recycling more efficient, making it easier for your glass to be turned into things like new bottles or home insulation. This glass is also recycled at no cost to local governments. NY’s Bottle Bill has reduced littler by 70% and has encouraged the recycling of billions of beverage containers. For a list of containers that can go in these programs visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/57687.html

Glass Recycling and Reuse Quick Tips

• Is it a bottle or jar? It can go in your recycling bin for your curbside program, transfer station or other local drop-off program. And remember- many beverage bottles are accepted in NY’s Bottle Bill deposit programs that are good for recycling!
• Not a bottle or a jar? Don’t contaminate the bin, reuse, up-cycle or donate.
• Not in condition to donate or reuse? Carefully dispose of in the trash.
• Broken glass? Whether a bottle or jar or not, no broken glass should ever go in your recycling bin.

Other Resources

The Recycling Partnership:

• Anti-contamination Toolkit
• DIY Signs Recycling Sign Generator

Glass Packaging Institute Glass Recycling Facts

Glass Recycling Coalition:

• How to recycle glass
• Why recycle glass

EPA Glass Recycling Facts

Earth911 Glass Recycling Tips

Video: How a used bottle becomes a new bottle

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.

* If you are experiencing technical difficulties downloading the images from Flickr, please open the Flickr link in a different web browser such as Chrome or Firefox.