#RecycleRightNY April 2020 Resources

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Share or view as a web page || Update preferences or unsubscribe

 

#RecycleRightNY Campaign Materials

April is dedicated to educating the public about how to Sort it All Out and interpret different symbols and labeling on packaging and products and how important it is to know your local recycling program rules. To spread the message, please use the resources below (Facebook / Instagram posts, Twitter tweets, newsletter article and other resources) through the month of April via your social media platforms, newsletters, etc. Modify the order for the month as necessary to fit your needs.

Special extra resources this month regarding COVID19 and recycling services in NY

During the COVID19 response, recycling operations (including redemption of containers through the bottle bill) are considered essential services. For detailed information and social media about COVID19 and recycling/ waste management services see the “Extras” section of these resources.

During this time of uncertainty, please follow all guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and your state and local government officials as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve.

Graphics and Images

High resolution images formatted for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 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/Instagram: Q: True or False: If a product or packaging has the chasing arrows symbol stamped on it, it means it can be placed in your home recycling bin.

Facebook/Instagram: A: Answer: False. If a product or packaging has the chasing arrows symbol stamped on it, it does not necessarily mean it is accepted in your local recycling program. The symbol can have various meanings and may not be accepted in your local program. Know your program! #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: Q: True or False: If a product or packaging has the chasing arrows symbol stamped on it, it means it can be placed in your home recycling bin.

Twitter: A: False. The symbol can have various meanings and may not be accepted in your local program. Know your program! #RecycleRightNY

Facebook/Instagram: #RecycleRightNY tip: Just because packaging or products have the chasing arrows symbol stamped on them does not mean they are accepted in your local recycling program. The symbol can have various meanings. Always check your local recycling program rules. Find your local contact here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8511.html

Twitter: #RecycleRightNY tip: The chasing arrows symbol can have many different meanings. Always check your local recycling program rules to know what’s accepted. Find your local contact here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8511.html


Week 2 Campaign Materials

Facebook/Instagram: #RecycleRightNY tip: Print your local recycling program rules and hang them in a visible location in the kitchen to reference.

Twitter: #RecycleRightNY tip: Print your local recycling program rules and hang them in a visible location in the kitchen to reference.

Facebook/Instagram: Here’s how to recycle right- just because a product or packaging is plastic, metal, glass or paper does not mean it can go in your home recycling bin. Learn your local recycling program rules and hang a list in an easy location for reference. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: Just because a product or packaging is plastic, metal, glass or paper does not mean it can go in your home recycling bin. Learn your local recycling program rules and hang a list in an easy location for reference. #RecycleRightNY


Week 3 Campaign Materials

Facebook/Instagram: #RecycleRightNY tip: Save a list of your local recycling program rules in your smartphone or hang them on your fridge for quick access to what’s accepted in your recycling program.

Twitter: #RecycleRightNY tip: Save a list of your local recycling program rules in your smartphone or hang them on your fridge for quick access to what’s accepted in your recycling program.

Facebook/Instagram: We look up information about how to do everything else- why not look up your local recycling rules so you know what can be recycled? Contact you hauler or municipality today for a list of recycling Do’s and Don’ts. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: We look up information about how to do everything else- why not look up your local recycling rules so you know what can be recycled? Contact you hauler or municipality today for a list of recycling Do’s and Don’ts. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook/Instagram/ Twitter: This Earth Day show the planet some love by choosing one way you can reduce the amount of waste you generate at home. #RecycleRightNY


Week 4 Campaign Materials 

Facebook/Instagram: Would you follow arrows or signs without knowing where you’re going first? Recycling is the same way! Products or packaging may have the chasing arrows printed on them but it’s up to us to know if our local recycling program can accept those items. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: Would you follow arrows or signs without knowing where you’re going first? Recycling is the same way! Products or packaging may have the chasing arrows printed on them but it’s up to us to know if our local recycling program can accept those items. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook/Instagram: New York is beautiful and diverse and so are our recycling programs! What your local recycling program can accept varies based on where you live. Each community is unique and so are our recycling programs. Be sure to know what’s recyclable where you live! #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: New York is beautiful and diverse and so are our recycling programs! Each community is unique and so are our recycling programs. Be sure to know what’s recyclable where you live! #RecycleRightNY


Week 5 Campaign Materials 

Facebook/Instagram: Sort through it! Recycling equipment is only designed to sort the materials that are accepted in your local recycling program. Everything else becomes a burden to the system, causing contamination and decreasing the value of recyclables. We can all do our part to make recycling work by learning what belongs in our own local recycling programs. Learn your local program today and keep the rules handy. #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: Sort through it! Recycling equipment is only designed to sort the materials that are accepted in your local recycling program. We can all do our part- learn your local recycling program today and keep the rules handy. #RecycleRightNY

Facebook/Instagram: #RecycleRightNY tip: the average human can only remember 3-5 items in a list. Don’t rely on memory! Contact your hauler or municipality for a list of your local recycling program rules so you can reference them anytime. #RecycleRightNY


Twitter: #RecycleRightNY tip: the average human can only remember 3-5 items in a list. Don’t rely on memory! Contact your hauler or municipality for a list of your local recycling program rules so you can reference them anytime. #RecycleRightNY


April Newsletter/Newspaper Article

Sorting It Out: Symbols and Labeling Myths and Facts about Recycling

Recycle where facilities exist, return to retail, eco-friendly, #7, #1, contains recycled content, recyclable, bio-based, chasing arrows with a number, chasing arrows without a number, 50% PCR, and what’s that little green leaf!?

Symbols and text on products and packaging can be confusing, especially when we’re trying to figure out how to properly recycle, compost, or dispose of something in the trash. Read on to learn how to sort it all out!

Know Your Program

Myth: It’s too hard to figure out how to recycle products or packaging
Fact: Your municipality or hauler can provide you with an “accepted” and “not accepted” list for your home recycling bin to take out the guess work. Your local recycling coordinator can answer questions and help you figure out what to do with items requiring special drop-off programs for recycling such as textiles, rechargeable batteries, plastic bags and films, electronics or items that may be household hazardous waste.

Labels and Instructions

Myth: The chasing arrows symbol means I can put it in my home recycling bin
Fact: False. The chasing arrows symbol does not necessarily mean an item is accepted in your local recycling program. This symbol can have various different meanings. It can mean the item has potential to be recycled, is made with recycled content, or can be recycled at special drop-off locations. It is up to us to know our local programs.

Myth: Products and Packaging labeled “eco-friendly” or “green” can all be recycled
Fact: False. The terms “eco-friendly” and “green” are ambiguous terms. Just because an item is labeled as eco-friendly or green does not necessarily mean it can be recycled in your home recycling bin.

Myth: If an item is labeled compostable or bio-plastic it is OK to put in my home recycling bin Fact: False. Items labeled as compostable plastic or bio-plastics cannot go in your home recycling bin. They are different in composition than fossil fuel based plastics and should not be mixed with regular plastics. People and sorting equipment cannot recognize the difference at facilities.

Compostable plastics can sometimes be labeled with a #7 (other). Unless your community has industrial composting available that will accept these items, these items must go in the trash. Industrial composting is a large scale composting facility that regularly reaches high temperatures required to degrade this material.

Tips to Sort Through It

  • Take the guesswork out- contact your municipality or hauler for a list of materials that are accepted and not accepted in your local recycling program
  • Save your recycling program rules in a list in your mobile device or hang a list on your fridge or other visible location so you can easily and quickly check it instead of guessing
  • Remember- symbols and labels on products and packaging can have different meanings- know your local program rules! 

Extras

COVID-19 Response Resources

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have both issued guidance associated COVID-19 and waste management.

Waste and Recyclables Essential Services Statement

As identified in the Guidance on Executive Order 202.6, essential business or entities in NY that are not required to reduce in-person workforce by 100% 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. Currently, there is no evidence that suggests managing residential wastes or recyclables represents a danger to the general public. For questions please e-mail the DEC at dmm@dec.ny.gov.

COVID-19 and Bottle Bill Beverage Container Redemption

DEC recognizes that unintended consequences of the COVID-19 response may make full compliance with requirements challenging for certain facilities and result in temporary disruptions to required redemption operations. While continuing the redemption of containers is considered an essential service and is expected to continue, DEC will not actively enforce violations at facilities unable to fulfill redemption operations due to resource restrictions during the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts. Please contact the Department with any questions at nybottle@dec.ny.gov.

*Check your programs locally as this is an evolving situation.

 

COVID19 and Recycling Social Media

Facebook/Instagram: New York- Keep Calm and Recycle on. Recycling is an essential public service. Contact your local recycling programs and redemption centers for guidance as the situation with COVID19 continues to evolve. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Twitter: New York- Keep Calm and Recycle on. Recycling is an essential public service. Contact your local recycling programs and redemption centers for guidance as the situation with COVID19 continues to evolve. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Facebook/Instagram: Redemption of containers through the bottle bill are considered essential services, however the COVID-19 response may result in temporary disruptions to redemption operations. Due to resource restrictions during the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts some retailers and redemption centers may be unable to fulfill redemption operations. Contact your redemption center location for updates and details. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Twitter: Recycling is essential. But due to resource restrictions and disruptions during COVID19 response, some retailers and redemption centers may be unable to fulfill redemption operations. Contact your redemption center location for updates. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19


Facebook/Instagram: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and other organizations have issued guidance associated with COVID19 and waste management to keep their workers and our communities safe. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Twitter: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have issued guidance associated with the COVID19 and waste management to keep their workers and our communities safe. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Facebook/Instagram: In need of an indoor activity? Why not learn about how you or your family can recycle right! For tips visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/116113.html #RecycleRightNY

Twitter: In need of an indoor activity? Why not learn about how you or your family can recycle right! For tips visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/116113.html #RecycleRightNY

Facebook/Instagram: Need some teaching activities for K-3 and grades 4-5? Check out these free activities and coloring page from the Recycling Partnership: https://recyclingpartnership.org/blog-recycling-curriculum-grades-k-3/ #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Twitter: Need some teaching activities for K-3 and grades 4-5? Check out these free activities and coloring page from the Recycling Partnership: https://recyclingpartnership.org/blog-recycling-curriculum-grades-k-3/ #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: Got recyclables like textiles, rechargeable batteries, or film plastic that require special drop-off programs? Consider collecting them and setting them aside to reduce trips from home. #NYonPause #COVID19 #RecycleRightNY

 

*Please remember to follow the CDC's Guidelines. If you are sick, stay home. 


Other Resources

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Waste Management Q&A’s
Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Guidance on COVID-19
NYS Department of Health Reusable Bag Guidelines
NYSDEC Covid-19 and Bottle Bill Beverage Container Redemption
NYSDEC Waste Management and COVID-19

  • Waste and Recyclables Essential Services Statement

The Recycling Partnership

Local Recycling Coordinator Contacts

Keep America Beautiful


Free Images

Free high resolution images formatted for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 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.

 

sort it out

 

keep cal and recycle

 

RP arrows

 

RP wishcycling

 


Recycle Right NY is an education campaign focused on supporting efforts to reduce contamination in household recycling programs across NYS. The campaign focuses on educating residents about one recycling topic per month. Campaign materials including monthly text and photos, as seen above, are available for use in your own social media and digital and print newsletters. For more information about the campaign or on how to get involved e-mail recycling@dec.ny.gov.