Environmental News and Events for Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Region 1)

In This Issue:

• Recycling Wrapping Papers, Boxes & Ribbons
• Recycling Electronics This Holiday Season
• Celebrate the New Year Outdoors with a First Day Hike
• Last Chance to Get the Conservationist for Half Off
• January Hunting Season on Long Island

Can I Recycle That - Wrapping Papers, Boxes & Ribbons

Boxes and ribbons
There’s always so many
Wrapping paper options
The choices are plenty
Decisions, decisions
Which wrapping paper to use?
Take a look at the chart below
To help you pick and choose
Careful choices
Made with less haste
Means a happy holiday for the Earth
Because of less waste
There’s reuse and recycling
And composting too
Consider a greener wrapping option
And our environment will thank you!

Recycling Electronics This Holiday Season

With holiday cheer and gifts galore, many of you will give or receive new electronic equipment. As you switch out of the old and welcome the new, please remember to recycle your old electronics responsibly.

Examples of common electronic equipment that must be recycled:

• Computers (desktops, laptops, e-readers, tablets, etc.)
• Computer peripherals (mice, keyboards, monitors, printers, etc.)
• Small electronic equipment (DVR's, DVD players, MP3 players, video game consoles, etc.)
• Televisions

It is illegal to dispose these and other covered electronic equipment (CEE) in the trash under New York's electronic waste law.

How to recycle electronics:
Visit DEC's Consumer Electronic Waste Recycling webpage for information on all available recycling/reuse opportunities.

Manufacturers of CEE are required to provide consumers a free and convenient opportunity to recycle their equipment or one piece of CEE from another manufacturer with the purchase of the same type. Depending on a specific manufacturer's acceptance program, CEE recycling/reuse opportunities may include: permanent collection locations, local collection events, mailback programs, or at-home pickup (when no other free and convenient option is offered).

Questions or concerns? Contact the E-waste Recycling Team.

Celebrate the New Year Outdoors with a First Day Hike!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the First Day Hikes program. Get outside and enjoy the New Year with a hike at the Ridge Conservation Area on Sunday, January 3
Town of Ridge, Suffolk County

Contact Bill Fonda bill.fonda@dec.ny.gov or call (631) 444-0350 for hike time. Participation is limited to 15 individuals.

Enjoy a 2.25-mile hike that will wind its way through the 184-acre Ridge Conservation Area. The hike features 14 interpretive posts describing forest, grassland, and pond habitats. The interpretive trail hike will provide scenic viewing locations and be completely guided. Please dress appropriately for winter weather. Sorry, no pets allowed.

You can also hike at Cupsogue Beach County Park, Westhampton, Suffolk County.

Contact Stephanie Rekemeyer fw.marine@dec.ny.gov or (631) 440-0450 for hike time and registration (required).

Take a marine seal walk presented by the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and requirements for safe outdoor recreation, there will be no large group hikes this year. 

Last Chance to Get Conservationist Magazine for Half-Price

For a limited time DEC is offering a one-year subscription to its award-winning Conservationist magazine at half-price.

Published six times a year, Conservationist is a New York State-focused magazine packed with informative and entertaining articles, first-rate photography, and stunning artwork. Articles cover a broad range of environmental and natural history related topics, including fishing, hiking, recreation, travel, hunting, and nature studies. Until Jan. 4, 2021, a year-long subscription to the Conservationist is on sale for just $6, half the usual subscription price. As a bonus, subscribers receive an additional issue for a total of seven issues.

To order a Conservationist subscription, visit DEC's website or call 1-800-678-6399.

January Hunting Season on Long Island

In Suffolk County, the regular bowhunting deer season runs through Jan. 31, and the special late firearms season runs from Jan. 3 through 31. Town permits are required in the towns of Southampton, Islip, and Smithtown. For DEC-managed lands, hunters not holding drawing numbers or who missed the reservation sign-up period can claim reservations for any unfilled hunting spots between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Dec. 19 - 24, 26 - 31, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 4 - 31. You must make reservations in person. For more information on reservation procedures and to see which DEC-managed lands are available for firearms deer hunting, visit DEC's website. For regulations, places to hunt, and more information, visit DEC's Hunting on Long Island webpage or contact the DEC Region 1 Wildlife Office at (631) 444-0310.

While statistics show that hunting in New York State is safer than ever, mistakes are made every year. Nearly every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable, and hunters are encouraged to use common sense this season and to remember the tools taught in DEC's Hunter Education Course.

Firearms Safety

• Point your gun in a safe direction
• Treat every gun as if it was loaded
• Be sure of your target and beyond
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

DEC encourages all hunters to wear blaze orange or pink to make themselves more visible to other hunters. Hunters who wear hunter orange are seven times less likely to be shot.

When hunting in tree stands, use a safety harness and a climbing belt, as most tree stand incidents occur when hunters are climbing in and out of the stand. Hunters should never climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm.