Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 10/06/2022 04:17 PM EDT
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Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

NEW! - DEC Funding for Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment

The goal of this funding program is to assist 501(c)(3) not-for-profits that provide emergency food relief in New York State. Approximately $500,000 is available for Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants.

Eligible Equipment
The following types of equipment that assist local emergency food relief organizations in providing food to those in need are eligible for funding under this grant program:

  • Trucks, refrigerated vehicles, and related equipment (trailers, insulated food storage containers, etc.) used in the transport of food; and
  • cooling equipment (freezers, refrigerators, walk-in freezer or cold room, etc.) and related installation costs (electrical, delivery, etc.).

There will be an informational webinar on using grants gateway on October 19th. For more information on the grant and how to join the webinar.

Environmental Radiation Regulations - Upcoming Virtual Stakeholder Meetings

DEC is holding virtual stakeholder meetings on the environmental radiation rules and revisions that are being considered for adoption.

The Environmental Radiation Revisions stakeholder meetings will primarily focus on a new regulation to be proposed, Part 384 – Cleanup Criteria for Remediation of Sites Contaminated with Radioactive Material, and revisions to the existing Part 381 – Transporters of Low-Level Radioactive Waste. DEC staff will also be available to answer questions from attendees.

These meetings will be conducted virtually, and attendees will need to connect through either a computer or by telephone. Those who wish to attend the meetings need to register.

  • October 19, 2022, 1PM to 3PM - Register
  • October 19, 2022, 6PM – 7PM - Register

For more information about the rulemaking and registration details for the meetings.

Cozy Up with Seasonal Clothing and Textile Waste Reduction Tips

Clothing

In NY state it’s time to start putting away warm weather clothing and light blankets and taking stock of sweaters, comforters, and jackets that give us that warm fuzzy feeling. What‘s not so warm and fuzzy is that in the United States, textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing each year. While we recycle around 15 percent of post-consumer textiles, 85 percent ends up as waste in landfills and waste combustors when many of these materials can be reused or recycled providing social, environmental, and economic benefits.

Reducing waste from clothing and textile home goods can also help fight climate change. Globally, greenhouse gas emissions from textile production total 1.2 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent, more than emissions from international flights and maritime shipping combined. Diverting a year’s worth of textiles from disposal would be equal to removing 7.3 million cars off the road!

As we transition our wardrobes and homes from Summer to Fall, we can all do our part to reduce textile waste and the impact it has on the planet by trying these tips and tricks:

Reuse

  • Swap and donate! Encourage friends and family to set aside gently used items they don’t want as they put away warm season clothing and take stock of cool season clothing. You can organize a clothing swap or donate items to organizations in your community that provide clothing to people in need.

Repair

  • Have a stain? Check how to best treat the material and type of stain. Some stains require cold water while others require hot. Pre-treating stains before washing can also help with stain removal.
  • Loose hem but no time to fix it? Double-sided tape can help secure it in a hurry.
  • Become part of the #RepairRevolution. Visit a Repair Café near you for help mending certain items.

Recycle

  • Textiles recycling is best utilized for items that no longer have a useful life.
  • Items can be dropped off for textiles recycling in any condition (torn, worn, stained, missing buttons, broken zippers, shoe without a mate, etc.) as long as they are clean, dry, and odorless.
  • Find a textiles recycling location near you. Locations on this list either accept textiles for recycling, donation, or both, so it’s best to check what types of items are accepted in advance.
  • Call prior to visiting a recycling or donation drop-off. Textiles recycling or donation locations in your area may not be currently accepting certain items or locations may change.

When Buying Additional Clothing

  • Choose timeless over trendy when possible. You’ll be less likely to want to buy something new when styles change.
  • Shop secondhand at local thrift and consignment shops. There are also several online retailers that focus on secondhand clothing.
  • Takeback and Repair Programs - If buying new, check to see if the retailer offers a takeback program or repair options for their clothing. You may also want to investigate whether the retailer uses sustainable and socially responsible practices when manufacturing its products.

Take Care

  • Check fabric care labels. Washing and drying according to care instructions helps clothing last longer, improves color retention, and decreases the chances of an item shrinking.
  • Protect delicate or favorite items from stretching or tangling by using a garment bag. Some garment bags also double as microfiber catchers.
  • Make sure zippers, buttons, and other clasps are closed to reduce friction and catching on other clothing.

Learn more about textile reuse and recycling.

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.