Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

COVID-19 and Waste Management

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have both issued guidance associated with the coronavirus and waste management. In general, you should continue to use standard procedures for safe handling of residential waste, including for residential wastes from quarantined households. Currently, there is no evidence that suggests managing residential wastes or recyclables represents a danger to the general public.

For more information on CDC waste management guidance.
For more information on SWANA waste management guidance.

DEC Delivers Reusable Bags to Food Banks Across New York State

In advance of New York’s ban on single-use plastic bags, which went into effect March 1, DEC hosted eight BYOBagNY (Bring Your Own Bag New York) events across the state, including the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Watertown Urban Mission, Town of Plattsburgh, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Feeding Westchester Food Bank, Foodlink, Food Bank of Central New York and Western New York Food Bank.

The reusable BYOBagNY campaign continues to encourage New York State residents to use reusable bags wherever and whenever they shop. DEC is currently distributing hundreds of thousands of reusable bags across the state, with a focus on low and moderate-income New Yorkers with the help of partner state agencies, Feeding New York State - the statewide food bank organization - and other stakeholders.

DEC Grant Funding to Tackle Wasted Food - Awardees Announced

Wasted food has significant environmental, social and economic impacts, and DEC recently awarded emergency food relief organizations and municipalities funding to improve food rescue efforts, address wasted food and recycle food scraps. Reducing wasted food and food scraps in landfills is recognized as a valuable mitigation measure in the state’s ongoing fight against climate change.

Twenty-seven municipalities across New York State received a total of $3.28 million to create or expand programs to reduce wasted food, donate wholesome food and/or recycle food scraps (composting, etc.). View municipal grant awardees.

Eighty-four emergency food relief organizations (food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.) across New York State received a total of $1.1 million to increase the availability of wholesome food to those in need, in addition to increasing needed infrastructure in the emergency food relief organizations network to capture more food that would have otherwise gone to waste.  View emergency food relief organizations grant awardees.

Town of Bethlehem Compost Bin Sale

The Town of Bethlehem is excited to offer its 3rd annual Backyard Composter and Rain Barrel Sale, open to anyone in the Capital District. The pre-order deadline of April 1 will be extended.

Funding Opportunities - Application Deadlines

• March 31, 2020: NYSAR3 College Council Grants Program
• April 10, 2020: CCREF College Compost Research Scholarships
• April 17, 2020: DEC Environmental Excellence Awards
• April 17, 2020: US EPA Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program
• Recycling Partnership Residential Curbside Recycling Grant Program - Rolling Grant Program while funding is available.
• The NYSAR3 Green Schools Grant Program will be postponed until the fall.

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.