Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

Plastic Free July: Updates from our Participants

Kayla's Goal: Reduce plastic meal packaging, beverage jugs, and toiletries

• Growing Herbs & Avoiding Plastic: “Many herbs are low maintenance and well suited for small spaces and container planting, so the flexibility is perfect for a variety of living spaces and schedules. I realized how quickly we were going through the basil we planted back in May and decided to add four more basil plants in addition to planting some rosemary to avoid plastic packaging with purchasing both from the store. I plan to look into freezing herbs so that I can work toward avoiding herb related plastics during the winter as well.”
• Plastic Free Ingredients: "Its been difficult to find package free ingredients for making homemade plant-based beverages. I plan to buy ingredients with as little packaging as possible and try out at least two different recipes over the upcoming weekend."

Nasibah's Goal: Reduce plastic use in the kitchen
"As the month continues, it’s gotten a lot easier to remember my goals, and I find myself automatically reaching for my reusable swaps instead of anything disposable. I can already feel some great new habits starting to form! But, that’s not to say I haven’t felt overwhelmed. At times, I’ve also felt like I could be doing more. Instead of getting discouraged, I’ve reminded myself that every little step counts and that it’s more important and effective to make a few, long-lasting changes rather than a lot of short-lived ones."

• Reusable Sandwich/Snack Baggies: "The convenience of using single-use sandwich/snack baggies to store snacks and leftovers is appealing, but they aren’t accepted in curbside recycling. I purchased a pack of reusable silicone pouches in assorted sizes to help me make the permanent switch from disposable baggies. They cost less than $2 each, and I love using them so far! I’ve used them to store all sorts of foods like leftovers, produce, and snacks for the road. Washing and drying them seemed a little time-consuming at first because I was used to just tossing baggies out after I was done with them. However, it’s worth it to prevent unnecessary waste, and I’m committed to taking the time to care for them so I can continue to use them for years to come."
• Oat Milk Recipe: "I’ve tried out a few small-batch, oat milk recipes so far, and while they’ve all been delicious, I’m still working on perfecting my recipe. If you’re following along and have tried making oat milk at home, feel free to share your favorite recipe with us!"

Kristine's Goal: Reduce plastic use in the bathroom

• Accessibility to Plastic Free Bathroom Options: "I very slowly and purposefully walked through the beauty and health section at the store looking for plastic free or low waste options related to hair care, deodorant, bath and body products, and razors. Options were very limited to non-existent. I did this for two reasons, 1. to see how accessible plastic free to low waste products are and 2. to try and buy in person before shipping. Stores specializing in refillables, low waste and plastic free products are slowly popping up across NYS, which will help make these products more accessible and commonplace. Until one shows up in my area, I will have to resort to purchasing products online."
• Thinking Outside of the Box: Sunglasses: “The lenses on my sunglasses were beat up and scratched. I was going to purchase another pair of sunglasses from the same company, but found that I could just buy replacement lenses from them instead, meaning I didn’t have to replace the plastic frame which was still perfectly good.“

Amy's Goal: Reduce plastics associated with makeup

• Blush and Lip Stain/Gloss Trial 1: "I sliced and dehydrated fresh beets and ground them to a fine power in a coffee grinder. I did the same with some bulk rose petals I had and mixed the powders with coconut oil from a glass jar. I learned that a coffee grinder does not make a fine enough powder so this experiment didn’t work! The lip gloss and blush were mealy and separated! However- while slicing beets I was thinking about how they were staining everything including the cutting board and my hands, even after I tried washing them. I wondered what would happen if I rubbed a fresh, sliced beet on my lips. I could not believe the results! The color was rich and flattering and it stayed on for hours! I was shocked. I would definitely wear this! And it was so simple, not to mention I can eat the rest of the beet. I would recommend exfoliating your lips with some sugar or a washcloth since the beet stain can seep into cracks, and finish with a dab of low waste lip balm, butter, or oil."

Reducing Waste & Recycling Right This Summer

Shopping online and ordering takeout is great for social distancing, but all of that extra packaging builds up and requires natural resources to produce. A few things you can do to reduce your waste include:

Pause Before Buying - 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?

Know Before You Throw - Below are some common packaging items you may encounter along with general tips about what to do with them. You can also check with your recycling hauler or recycling coordinator for additional information.

• 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 received cardboard fiber is often recycled to make more cardboard boxes.
• 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.
• 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. 

Take the Plastic-Free July Challenge! More and more, people are recognizing the threat that single-use plastic items pose to our waterways, wildlife, and natural resources. This July join millions of people around the world by pledging to reduce your reliance on single-use plastic items. Whether you start big or small, learn more about Plastic Free July and the changes you can make.

Conference, Workshops & Webinars:

• August 3, 2020: Repair Cafe TV - Sewing Machine Maintenance
• August 5, 2020: Teaching Practical Strategies for Reducing Wasted Food Through Community Events - Webinar
• August 19, 2020: Repair Cafe TV - Jewelry Repair
• September 14 - 18, 2020: Compost Operations Training Course - Chesterfield, New Jersey
• October 20 -21, 2020: Northeast Recycling Council Fall Conference - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

We Are All In This Together: Joining Chemists To Create a Sustainable Future

Join Beyond Benign’s Dr. Natalie O'Neill, for a presentation on the role of green chemistry in our sustainable future. Global climate change, ocean plastics, and toxics in the environment - how do we create solutions to these problems? Learn how individual purchasing power can impact our environmental sustainability on July 28 at 7 p.m. for this Facebook Live discussion. No registration is necessary. For more information, visit Beyond Benign’s Facebook posting.

Funding/RFP Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• Recycling Partnership Residential Curbside Recycling Grant Program - Rolling Grant Program while funding is available.

Award Deadlines

• August 14, 2020: 2020 NERC Environmental Sustainability Leadership Award

#GetCountedNY

Did you complete the census yet?

New York urges you to be part of our complete count effort, which will ensure census data is accurate. It’s quick and simple to participate, and it can even be done online now. Don’t be anonymous. Make sure you are counted in the 2020 U.S. Census, and encourage friends, family and co-workers to participate as well. Census data is an important tool that will help shape our future, and an accurate tally will help ensure everyone counts when it comes to key decisions impacting our future.

Learn more.

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. 

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