Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

COVID-19 and Waste Management in NYS

As identified in the Guidance on Executive Order 202.6, essential business or entities that are not required to reduce in-person workforce by 100 percent include "trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal services." The exclusion includes collection, transportation, processing and disposal activities for any solid wastes, regulated medical waste, hazardous wastes, radioactive wastes and other associated waste categories. This also includes all recyclables including redemption of bottle bill containers. Visit our website for more information on DEC guidance for COVID-19 and waste management.

The United States Composting Council (USCC) also has the following resources available:

• Composting in the time of COVID-19 - A Webinar Series
• USCC COVID-19 Resources

Save the Date - 2021 NYS Organics Summit

While the 2020 NYS Organics Summit was canceled due to health and safety concerns caused by COVID-19, we are excited to announce the 2021 NYS Organics Summit will be April 6 – 7, 2021 at the Albany Capital Center.

While we will not be rescheduling the 2020 NYS Organics Summit for a date later this year, we are working on pulling some special things together in hopes of sharing content originally planned for the Summit and finding ways to connect one another. There will be more updates to come very soon!

Follow along on Facebook or Instagram (@nys_organics_summit) for updates.

US EPA Sustainable Materials Management Grant - Closing Soon!

Sustainable materials management (SMM) is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. It represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By looking at a product's entire life cycle, we can find new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs. Developing markets for reused and/or recycled materials also falls under this domain.

Grant funding is available through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support training, demonstrations, and public education projects for developing programs that support the sustainable management of organic waste and/or construction and demolition debris. While this RFA is open to cover all of EPA Region 2, i.e. New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is essential that Puerto Rico and/or the U.S. Virgin Islands benefit from the proposed project. Submit your application by April 17, 2020.

NYSP2I Community Grants Program Now Open!

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) just announced the opening of their Community Grants Program. Eligible applicants are able to receive up to $20,000 to fund their project. These projects should raise awareness and understanding of pollution prevention practices that lead to implementation at the local level. Eligible applicants include community organizations, municipal departments, and other public sector and nonprofit entities. Submit your application for the 2020 - 2021 Community Grants Program by May 29, 2020. 

Learn more about the 2019 - 2020 Community Grants Program awardees. 

Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sales

• Order by April 22, 2020: Town of Highlands
• Order by May 1, 2020: Erie County
• Order by June 1, 2020: Town of Bethlehem

Conference, Workshops & Webinars:

• April 2, 2020: How to go Zero Waste & Live More Sustainably - Webinar
• April 7, 2020: Composting is an Essential Service: Experiences and Recommendations from Around the County - Webinar
• April 8, 2020: Helping Your Office Reduce Waste - Webinar
• April 14, 2020: Navigating COVID-19 for Small-Scale Food Scrap Collectors: Drop-off & Curbside - Webinar
• April 21, 2020: The Re-emergence of the "Victory Garden": Selling Compost to Customers While They Shelter in Place - Webinar
• October 4 - 7, 2020: Federation Conference - Bolton Landing

Due to healthy and safety concerns caused by COVID-19, the Federation Conference originally planned for May 17 - 20, 2020  has been postponed to October 4 - 7, 2020 at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, NY.

Funding Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• April 10, 2020: CCREF College Compost Research Scholarships
• April 17, 2020: DEC Environmental Excellence Awards
• April 17, 2020: US EPA Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program
• May 29, 2020: NYSP2I Community Grants Program
• Recycling Partnership Residential Curbside Recycling Grant Program - Rolling Grant Program while funding is available.
• The NYSAR3 Green Schools Grant Program will be postponed until the fall.

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 and it could be featured in an upcoming Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter.