#RecycleRightNY Campaign Materials

July is dedicated to educating the public about how to Think Before You Buy and Think Before You Throw and how to participate in the Plastic Free July Challenge. To spread the message, please use the resources below (Facebook / Instagram posts, Twitter tweets, newsletter article and other resources) through the month of July via your social media platforms, newsletters, etc. Modify the order for the month as necessary to fit your needs. For more content visit the Recycle Right NY webpage. 

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".

Extra Content on COVID-19

During the COVID-19 response, recycling operations are considered essential services. For detailed information and social media about COVID-19 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.

Week 1 Campaign Materials (Reduce Waste & Recycle Right at Home)

Facebook/Instagram: Now more than ever many of us are relying on online shopping, takeout meals, and single-use disposable items. This is increasing the amount of trash and recyclables that we generate at home, and so it’s important to pay special attention to what we buy and the items we’re placing in our recycling bins. By doing so, we can discover opportunities to prevent unnecessary waste.

Twitter: Now more than ever we're relying on online shopping, takeout meals, and single-use items, increasing the trash we generate at home. Let's pay attention to what we buy and what’s going in our recycling bins so, we can find opportunities to prevent waste.

Week 2 Campaign Materials (Take the Plastic Free July Challenge!)

Facebook/Instagram:  More and more, people are recognizing the threat that single-use plastic items pose to our waterways, wildlife, natural resources, and people. This July, join millions of people around the world by pledging to reduce your reliance on single-use plastic items. Learn more at: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Twitter:  More and more, people are recognizing the threat that single-use plastic items pose to the environment This July, join millions of people around the world by pledging to reduce your reliance on single-use plastic items. Learn more at: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org

Week 3 Campaign Materials (Reflect on Your Online Shopping Habits)

Facebook/Instagram: The most effective way to reduce waste is to prevent it before it occurs. The next time you’re browsing online stores, pause and reflect before adding an item to your cart. Ask yourself the following: Can I make do without this item? Can I adapt something I already own to serve a similar purpose? Can I borrow this from a friend or relative? Or, can I buy a used version?

Twitter: The most effective way to reduce waste is to prevent it before it occurs. The next time you’re browsing online stores, pause and reflect before adding an item to your cart. Ask yourself: Can I make do without? Can I adapt something I already own? Can I borrow? Can I buy used?

Week 4 Campaign Materials (Know Your Packaging to Recycle Right)

Facebook/Instagram: (choose any of the items below to post about) 

Cardboard: Recycling programs DO accept clean, dry cardboard. Be sure to empty and flatten boxes, which will help with the collection and sorting process. The recovered cardboard fiber is often recycled to make more cardboard boxes!

Packing Peanuts: Most recycling programs DO NOT accept packing peanuts. Avoid putting them in your bin. Instead, use them at home to safely store delicate items, or ask your local shipping service if they will take them for reuse.

Foam containers: Many recycling programs DO NOT accept polystyrene foam containers, so be sure to ask your local recycling coordinator or hauler.

Plastic Takeout Containers: Many recycling programs DO NOT accept plastic takeout containers, including thin plastic, hinged “clamshells” and black plastic containers. These plastics are currently difficult to recycle for many recycling facilities.

Foil/Aluminum Containers: Recycling programs DO accept foil and aluminum cans IF they are free from any food residue.

Pizza Boxes: Some recycling programs DO accept pizza boxes if they are free from grease and other food residue. You can also remove the soiled half and recycle the clean portion.

Compostable Plastic: Recycling programs DO NOT accept compostable plastic. These materials can be composted at some industrial compost facilities but should not be placed in your recycling bin with other plastics

July Newsletter/Newspaper Article

Think Before You Buy and Think Before You Throw

Now more than ever, many of us are relying on online shopping, takeout meals, and single-use disposable items. This is increasing the amount of trash and recyclables that we generate at home, and so it’s important to pay special attention to the items we’re purchasing and the things we’re placing in our recycling bins. By doing so, we can discover opportunities to prevent unnecessary waste and make sure we’re recycling properly. Here are some tips for you to try from home:  

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 COVID19 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. 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.

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

COVID-19 and Recycling Social Media 

Facebook/ Instagram/Twitter: From production to packaging to shipping, disposable items pass through a countless number of hands by the time they reach a restaurant. Bottom line? The most hygienic food-ware for your meals is the kind that can go through a dishwasher. #indisposable

Facebook/ Instagram/Twitter: Thank you to all essential workers who work in waste and recycling. Whether at the curb or local transfer station, to our janitors maintaining buildings, and waste and recycling facility workers- we want to thank you for your service. #RecycleRightNY #ThankYouRecyclingHeros

Facebook/ Instagram: In some locations, essential sanitation workers are in need of masks to keep themselves safe. If you are making masks or can donate masks, consider reaching out to your municipality with your interest in donating masks to workers who collect your trash and recycling or sort recyclables at recycling facilities. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19 #ThankYouRecyclingHeros

Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter: #RecycleRightNY Tip - disposable masks and gloves do not belong in your home recycling bin and will cause problems at recycling facilities. Properly dispose of these items in the trash. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Facebook/ Instagram: Disposable masks and gloves are becoming a litter problem in our communities and in the environment. If you are using masks or gloves, please be sure they are disposed of properly in a trash container to protect your neighbors and the environment. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Twitter: If you are using masks or gloves, please be sure they are disposed of properly in a trash container to protect your neighbors and the environment. #RecycleRightNY #COVID19

Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter: Take a small bag or container with you on-the-go that you can put used gloves and masks in if there’s no trash can nearby. Then you can put the used items in the trash later. Keep our communities safe and protect the environment by not littering these items.

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

Other Resources

Plastic Free July

• Free resources and a challenge to plan for going plastic free in July  

Upstream

• FAQ Sheet- The Safety of Reuse During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Free Social Media Toolkit- Reuse Safety during COVID-19 
• Reuse, Resilience, & COVID-19 podcast
• Reuseables Resources for COVID-19
• The Safety & Future of Reuse recorded webinar

The Growing PPE Litter Problem

Northeast Resource Recovery Association

• Coronavirus Resource Page- Support for Municipalities
• School Recycling Club Learning Tools

Monroe County

• Free Recycling Coloring Book

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

The Recycling Partnership

• COVID-19 Social Media Kit
• Keep Recycling Coloring Sheet
• Thank a Recycling Collector Coloring Sheet
• Recycling While Social Distancing – How to Commit to Sustainability at Home
• K-3 and grades 4-5 Teaching Activities about Recycling
  
  • Free teaching activities and coloring book page
• Free Downloadable Resources to help your community Recycle Right

NYSDEC

• NYSDEC Waste Management and COVID-19
• Updated! NYSDEC COVID-19 and Bottle Bill Beverage Container Redemption
• Local Recycling Coordinator Contacts
• Caregiver, Parent and Educator Resources While At Home
• The Virtual River- from the Hudson River Estuary Program
• Quick Family Activities
• Environmental Education Lesson Plans

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.