Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 07/28/2022 05:04 PM EDT
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Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

Sustainable Food Management Workshop Series - Register Now!

With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions Community Solutions (CSCS) and the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) are teaming up to facilitate a sustainable food management workshop series this fall.

The purpose is to assist rural communities across the State with addressing food loss and waste on the local level. Participating communities will complete a series of three no-cost workshops (two in-person and one virtual) and independent follow-up assignments. Participants will also receive one-on-one support and coaching from staff at CSCS and NYSP2I. By the conclusion of the series, participants will have created a plan for a pilot project to sustainably manage one or more aspects of food loss and waste in their community.

The series is being offered in two areas of the State: Herkimer and Batavia. Workshops will take place in mid-September, mid-October, and mid-November of this year. Participating communities are strongly encouraged to have 2-3 representatives attend the workshops. Space is limited, so interested communities should complete the following participation request form no later than Friday, August 26: Complete the online participation request form!

Questions about the workshop series or the request form can be directed to CSCS Project Assistant, Sarah Rosenthal, at srosen06@syr.edu.

“PaintCare Roll-Out”

Recycle Paint

Attention New Yorkers! Do you know that you can recycle your unused and unwanted paint? (Just not in your recycling bin.)

In the wake of a law passed in 2019, a new paint recycling program called PaintCare has come to New York. With over 200 drop-off locations and growing throughout the state, this program welcomes households, organizations, schools, and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish conveniently and sustainably.

Why Recycle Paint

Some of the household paints, stains, and varnishes that we use contain toxics, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If paint is not managed properly, these VOCs can be extremely toxic to the surrounding environment and communities within. When we recycle paint right, through programs such as PaintCare, we are conserving resources, protecting communities, and playing a small but mighty role in keeping those VOCs at bay.

How To Recycle Paint

There’s no cost when you drop off paint (the program is funded by a fee added to paint sales), and all PaintCare sites accept up to five gallons per visit while some take more! The nearest drop-off site can be found on PaintCare’s online locator tool at www.paintcare.org where you can also find the list of items the program does and does not accept.

DIY tips:

Do-it-yourself for household maintenance and projects is wonderful because you are in control. You maintain creative freedom, you can save money, and you can also choose the materials you would like to work with.

In other words, DIY is a golden opportunity to embrace a sustainability mindset. When considering what to buy for your next DIY paint project:

  1. Buy the right amount of paint.
  2. Use up what’s left
  3. And recycle the rest!

Visit www.paintcare.org to find a paint drop-off location nearest to you.

Proposed Parts 360-366, 369, 371, 377 Public Comment Period Extended Until August 24

DEC is proposing to revise the Part 360 Series including:

  • 6 NYCRR Part 360 Solid Waste Management Facilities
  • Part 361 Material Recovery Facilities
  • Part 362 Combustion, Thermal Treatment, Transfer and Collection Facilities
  • Part 363 Landfills
  • Part 364 Waste Transporters
  • Part 365 Regulated Medical Waste and Other Infectious Wastes
  • Part 366 Local Solid Waste Management Planning
  • Part 369 State Assistance Projects

The revisions include technical amendments and clarifications to the comprehensive 2017 rulemaking, as well as updated criteria needed due to legal and policy developments. This rulemaking also includes minor revisions to Part 371 and Part 377.

Public Comment on the Proposed Rule Making
The public is invited to submit written comments on the proposed Part 360 rulemaking through August 24, 2022. Written comments can be submitted by:

  • Email to solidwasteregulations@dec.ny.gov. Please include "Comments on Proposed Part 360" in the subject line of the email; or
  • By mail to the NYS DEC, Division of Materials Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7253

Round 6 of the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program Closes 7/29!

Round 6 of the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant Program is open for applications as of May 2, 2022. The program provides competitive, 50/50 matching grants to municipalities to conduct climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including actions that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities certification. View the 2022 Request for Applications (PDF). The deadline for the 2022 round is 4:00 p.m. on July 29, 2022.

 For more information about the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program.

Public Events

Regulatory Public Hearings & Comment Periods

Conferences, Workshops & Webinars

Funding/RFP Opportunities - Application Deadlines

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.