Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

Updates - NYS Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law

• A revised list of designated food scraps generators for 2022 is now available. This revised list shows entities that received waivers and the waiver justification, those that were removed and any businesses that were notified of a recycling requirement after June 1, 2021.
• Upcoming Webinar January 4, 2022: Starting a Food Donation Program at your Business - register now
• Request for Proposals Due January 14 - Technical Assistance to Increase Food Scraps Reduction and Recycling. Learn more.
• Upcoming Webinar February 1, 2022: The NYS Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law Takes Effect – register now
• DEC Guidance for NYS Businesses: Food Waste Reduction, Food Donation, Food Scraps Recycling (PDF)

Recycling Your Christmas Tree

After you’ve taken down all the trimmings, there are a few ways you can go green when saying goodbye to your Holiday tree:

• Providing shelter for nature. If you have space in your yard, consider using your tree as a brush pile for the birds. Not only will the pile provide extra shelter for feathered friends during the cold winter months, but it’ll also give you some excellent backyard bird-watching opportunities! View tips on outdoor tree disposal options.

• 

  Tree Collection for Recycling. Your municipality may offer a free tree collection or recycling program that will recycle your tree into mulch or compost. Remember to remove all lights & decorations first. Contact your local department of public works to find out more. The 'Events' section of this newsletter includes some Christmas tree recycling events we were able to find.

Packaging and Shipping Materials During the Holidays

If you received a gift or other packages in the mail, chances are it includes packaging materials and you may be wondering what to do with them. Use the chart below to help with the different materials you have on hand and remember that reuse is always the best option.

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).

How to recycle cell phones:
Wireless telephone service suppliers that offer wireless phones for sale, are required to provide free reuse and recycling of up to 10 cell phones from any person or provide free shipping of those phones to a recycling program. Contact your local wireless telephone service provider for more cell phone recycling program details. Learn more about NYS Wireless Telephone Recycling Act.

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

What Interests You In 2022? Tell Us Your Thoughts

As 2021 comes to a close and we say hello to a new year, we'd like to take a moment to thank all our readers and those who have written us with questions, suggestions and events in their communities. As we move into 2022, we want to further cater our content to your interests.

Please complete a short survey on what you would like to see in the Solid Waste & Recycling newsletter throughout 2022.

Events

• December 26, 2021 - January 9, 2022: Christmas Tree Recycling for Composting - Seneca County
• December 26, 2021 - January 9, 2022: Mulchfest for your Christmas Trees - New York City
• December 26, 2021 - January 31, 2022: Christmas Tree Recycling for Mulch - City of Rochester
• December 26, 2021 - January: Christmas Tree Recycling - Monroe County
• January 1, 2022: After the Holidays Recycling Event (Christmas Trees, Electronics, Clothing, etc.) - City of Buffalo
• January 3 - January 14, 2022: Christmas Tree Recycling for Composting (PDF) - Onondaga County
• January 3 - January 31, 2022: Christmas Tree Recycling for Composting (PDF) - Oneida Herkimer Solid Waste Authority
• January 6 - January 15, 2022: Christmas Tree Recycling for Composting - New York City

Note: Email organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov if there is a Christmas tree recycling event in your community that you would like shared.

Materials Management Job Opportunities

• Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) is seeking a qualified Recycling Educator to provide support to our county-wide outreach education programs. For more information on the Recycling Educator position.

Conferences, Workshops & Webinars

• January 4, 2022: Webinar: Starting a Food Donation Program at your Business - Virtual
• February 1, 2022: Webinar: NYS Food Donation & Food Scraps Recycling Law Takes Effect - Virtual
• April 5 - 6, 2022: NYS Organics Summit - Albany

Funding/RFP Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• January 14, 2022: DEC Request for Proposals - Technical Assistance to Increase Food Scraps Reduction and Recycling
• February 9 , 2022: EPA Request for Applications - Research to Reduce Consumer Food Waste in the United States
• Rolling Deadline: NYSP2I Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Reimbursement Program

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.