#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

December is dedicated to corrugated cardboard boxes- how to properly prepare them for recycling, the value in recycling this material, as well as reduction and reuse tips. Please use the resources below (Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, social media polls, newsletter article and other resources) through the month of December 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: Does it matter whether we flatten our cardboard boxes before placing them in the recycling bin?

Answer Choices: Yes or No.

Facebook Answer: Yes! It does matter whether we flatten cardboard boxes before placing them in the recycling bin. This helps save space in our bins and makes transportation and processing more efficient by allowing trucks to transport more material in each haul, and cardboard to travel easily through sorting equipment. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Does it matter whether we flatten our cardboard boxes before placing them in the recycling bin?

Answer Choices: Yes or No.

Twitter Answer: Yes! It does matter whether we flatten cardboard boxes before recycling. It saves space in bins, makes transportation and processing more efficient, and easier for cardboard to travel through sorting equipment. #RecycleRightNY

Week 2 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: We have a message to deliver! Next time you receive a package in a cardboard box remember to empty out packing peanuts, bubble wrap and air pillows, remove as much tape as you can, and flatten boxes before putting them in your recycling bin. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: We have a message to deliver! Next time you receive a package in a cardboard box remember to empty out packing peanuts, bubble wrap and air pillows, remove as much tape as you can, and flatten boxes before putting them in your recycling bin. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: It’s important to make sure we remove all packing materials from cardboard boxes before placing them in our home recycling bins. Many packing materials like bubble wrap and air pillows are recyclable but require specialized equipment for recycling and must be recycled separately at retail drop off locations. For more information and to find a drop-off location visit: https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/ #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Remove packing materials before recycling cardboard boxes. Many packing materials like bubble wrap and air pillows are recyclable but must be recycled separately at retail drop off locations. To find a drop-off location visit: https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/

Week 3 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: Ooo a package! We all love the convenience of opening a cardboard box that arrives on the doorstep. Let’s thank our cardboard boxes by emptying, flattening them and placing them in our recycling bins so they can get a second life and do it all over again! #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Ooo a package! We all love the convenience of opening a cardboard box that arrives on the doorstep. Let’s thank our cardboard boxes by emptying, flattening them and placing them in our recycling bins so they can get a second life and do it all over again! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: 96% of Americans have made an online purchase and 80% of us shop online each month! Much of our online shopping is made possible by the simple cardboard box. We all love getting packages so let’s appreciate cardboard boxes by emptying, flattening them and placing them in our recycling bins so they can get a second life! #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: 96% of Americans shop online and 80% of us shop online each month! We all love getting packages so let’s appreciate cardboard boxes by emptying, flattening them and placing them in our recycling bins so they can get a second life! #RecycleRightNY

Week 4 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post: #DidYouKnow NY is home to one of the largest cardboard recycling companies in the world that produces new boxes made with 100% recycled content? #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: #DidYouKnow NY is home to one of the largest cardboard recycling companies in the world that produces new boxes made with 100% recycled content? #RecycleRightNY

Facebook post: Raise your hand if you have cardboard boxes at home from online shopping! When you recycle all those cardboard shipping boxes they’re made into new paper bags, paperboard packaging for things like tissues and cereal boxes, and new cardboard boxes. But only if you #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Recycled cardboard shipping boxes are made into new shipping boxes, paper bags, and paperboard packaging for items like tissues and cereal. But only if you #RecycleRightNY

Week 5 Campaign Materials

Facebook Post:  Don’t get into a boxing match with your cardboard boxes! Keep a pair of scissors by the door to help open packages and cut through the sticky situation to make collapsing boxes for recycling easy. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: Don’t get into a boxing match with your cardboard boxes! Keep a pair of scissors by the door to help open packages and cut through the sticky situation to make collapsing boxes for recycling easy. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: #DidYouKnow the average corrugated cardboard shipping box contains 48 percent recycled content?

Twitter Tweet: #DidYouKnow the average corrugated cardboard shipping box contains 48 percent recycled content?

Extras

To the holiday tune of “My favorite things”
Presents and wrapping and boxes a-plenty
Which bin to choose, it’s the question of many
Boxes, more boxes oh what should you do?
Recycling right can help you get through
Maybe it’s two or perhaps even twenty
Remove all the contents and flatten when empty
Clean and dry boxes go in the recycling
These are a few of our favorite things!

Facebook Post: During the season between Thanksgiving and New Years’ Day we generate 25% more waste. Before the holiday madness approaches be prepared and know how to #RecycleRight. Contact your recycling hauler or municipality to review your program rules and keep them on hand. Pay special attention to items like batteries, electronics, and packing material that do not belong in your home recycling bin and require separate recycling programs #RecycleRightNY

Twitter Tweet: During the season between Thanksgiving and New Years’ Day we generate 25% more waste. Before the holiday madness approaches be prepared and know how to #RecycleRight. Contact your recycling hauler or municipality to review your program rules and keep them on hand.

Facebook Post: Think outside the box! Reusing cardboard boxes is a great way to conserve natural resources. Have a friend who’s moving? Need to organize your space? Keep some boxes around from packages you receive to use them again. If purchasing new boxes, check to make sure they’re made from post-consumer recycled content.

Twitter Tweet: Think outside the box! Reusing cardboard boxes is a great way to conserve natural resources. Have a friend who’s moving? Need to organize your space? Keep some boxes around from packages you receive to use them again.

Facebook Post: Don’t forget to remove wrapping paper before recycling cardboard boxes! Not all recycling programs accept wrapping paper or only accept a certain type. To learn you program rules contact your recycling hauler or contact your local recycling coordinator: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8511.html #KnowYourProgram #RecycleRightNY

Facebook post: Why recycle our cardboard boxes?  Recycling cardboard boxes decreases solid waste disposal in landfills, provides new fiber to make new paper products, uses less raw material and energy, and creates jobs. Recycling for the win! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook: We want to give you a “pizza” our mind about recycling pizza boxes! If your recycling program accepts cardboard pizza boxes, only recycle them if they are free of grease, cheese, sauce and other food residue. Tip- you can cut out or tear off the pieces with residue! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook Post: Recycling is an important part of the circular economy, ensuring valuable materials are used again instead of ending up in the landfill where they have no value. In 2017, 8.1 billion dollars worth of recycled fiber was collected, sorted, and processed by the paper recycling industry creating jobs and supporting the economy.

December Newsletter/Newspaper Article

Special Delivery! Tips for How to Properly Recycle Cardboard Boxes

We all love getting a package in the mail- but are we recycling our cardboard boxes and packing material inside correctly? Read on for tips on how to recycle right.

96% of Americans have made an online purchase, and 80% of us shop online each month! Much of our online shopping is made possible by the simple corrugated cardboard shipping box. We all love getting packages so let’s appreciate cardboard boxes by emptying, flattening them and placing them in our recycling bins so they can get a second life. Recycling cardboard boxes decreases solid waste disposal in landfills, provides new fiber to make new paper products, uses less raw material and energy, and creates jobs. Recycling is an important part of the circular economy, ensuring valuable materials are used again instead of ending up in the landfill where they have no value. In 2017, 8.1 billion dollars worth of recycled fiber was collected, sorted, and processed by the paper recycling industry creating jobs and supporting the economy.

How to Properly Recycle a Cardboard Box

Follow these steps when recycling cardboard boxes:

• Remove all packing materials like packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and air pillows from the box. See that recycling symbol? These packing materials cannot be recycled in your home recycling program, but some can be recycled at separate drop off locations found at many retail stores. For a materials list and drop off locations visit: https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/
• Keep it flat! Keep scissors by the door to cut through tape and collapse boxes flat. This helps make transportation and sorting more efficient for recycling.  If there is any loose tape peel it off and dispose of it in the trash.
• Keep it clean & dry! All cardboard that goes in your household recycling bin should be clean and dry- free of food, liquid, and other residues.
• Feel good! Recycling right feels good! Step back and admire your empty, flat boxes and leave your wish-cyclig guilt behind.

Other Resources

The Recycling Partnership

• Anti-contamination Toolkit
• DIY Signs Recycling Sign Generator
• The Bridge to Circularity Report
• Recycling 101
• Grab & Go Recycling Matters Social Media Kit
  • includes seasonal and holiday material

Paper Recycles

• Free shareable resources

Fiber Box Association

• Free info and resources about corrugated cardboard boxes

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.