Recycling is a process whereby materials that were otherwise considered waste, are recovered and processed for the use in new products. Often the recovered materials are substituted for virgin raw materials, thus adding to the overall benefit of recycling. When municipal solid waste is recycled, landfill air space is preserved and resources and energy are conserved. Recycling is a closed loop process that is symbolized by the internationally recognized green chasing arrows symbol.
On a local scale, recycling is the simplest way that we can help the environment, especially for us in Niagara County. Rethink Your Waste was designed to provide information and education that will assist Niagara County residents in becoming active recyclers. In addition to the environmental benefits, recycling also has a positive impact on the local economy. Data compiled by the state of California has indicated that recycling just 1 ton of waste has twice the economic impact of burying it in the ground, pays $101 more in wages and salaries, produces $275 more in goods and services, and generates $135 more in sales.
Municipal solid waste, or the waste that we all generate at work and at home, is a mix of materials where as much as 40% can be placed into our recycling bins. Common items like paper, tin cans, and plastic beverage bottles are derived from natural resources that need to be grown, drilled, or mined. The processes of extraction, shipping, and preparing raw materials for use are energy intensive and create a considerable amount of waste. When we recycle common daily items, a new feedstock of materials is created that offsets the demand for raw materials and ultimately conserves the energy needed to harvest them. For example, recycling just ONE ton of aluminum reduces waste and energy demand by 95% when compared to mining for aluminum. The same principle applies to other items that can go into our recycling bins such as paper, plastic, glass and other metals.
Recycling at Home
Every community in Niagara County is set up for curbside recycling or has access to drop-off bins (City of Lockport). If you have a recycling bin, you have all you need to participate…just fill your bin up and place it at your curb on collection day. If you don’t have a bin, or need another one, contact your local town clerk or highway department to find out how to get another one.
All recyclables that are collected curbside are processed at local Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF’s). Each city, town and village contracts with Modern Recycling, Allied Waste Services or Waste Management to manage the collection and/or processing of curbside recyclables. For a complete list of materials that are accepted for recycling in your city, town or village, click on this table. If you are unsure who collects your recyclables, click here to view a map. Also, an additional page has been set up for each resident to view the solid waste services that are available in their community.
Here is some good advice for using your recycle bin:
- Try to keep the contents clean. Rinsing out jars and bottles will help keep flies and vermin away from your bin. Some items may be tricky, like a peanut butter jar, so a little extra effort may be needed.
- When in doubt, throw it out, or contact us first. It may sound a little contradictory, but if everyone started throwing suspect items into their bins that usually are trash, it could be a waste of money and energy. Think of it this way, if you put a radio in your recycling bin it will travel to a recycling facility where it is processed first, then rejected and finally sent to a landfill, which is a lot longer of a trip than just sending it there to begin with. And, for the record a radio is considered e-waste, so save it and bring it to the next collection event.
The materials collected from curbside recycling programs are bought and sold on a large, often international, scale. The types of materials accepted in certain curbside programs are largely dependent upon the demands of a buyer for the collected materials, and is the reason why some local programs differ from others. The recycling industry is also a continuously evolving business, adding materials as they become feasible to recycle. Over the last several years, technological advances and innovative ideas have been developed to make it easier and less expensive to recycle, which ultimately makes recycling a cheaper option than disposal. One such example is the move from dual stream recycling to single stream recycling. This videohelps explain the single stream sorting process and the journey recyclables take at MRF’s.
Recycling at Work
Generally, the waste that is generated at businesses and offices consists of a lot of one type of waste. Restaurants primarily dispose of food waste and offices dispose quite a bit of paper and packaging waste. By targeting each specific waste type and diverting them from disposal through reduction, recycling and composting techniques, businesses have the ability to save on expenses related to waste disposal.
If you would like to establish a recycling program at your place of business, contact us at recycling@niagaracounty.com and we can help you get started on developing an easy, user-friendly recycling system. Or, review the several of the generic guides below as they may also be helpful in establishing a workplace recycling program.
- The Re-Paper Project has set up a recycling guide to provide building managers with an effective tool to assist in the development of recycling programs. (click to download)
- The American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA) has developed a guide to encourage the development of paper recycling programs. This guide provides valuable resources for businesses to coordinate and implement a successful recycling program. (click to download)
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed an eight step approach to developing and implementing a lasting and effective recycling program. (http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/rogo/program/index.htm)
- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials has compiled a list of useful publications for small businesses to use to employ waste reduction and recycling strategies. (http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8475.html)
Recycling at School
Schools typically create two types of waste; food scraps and paper/cardboard. Capturing these wastes and diverting them from disposal may translate into substantial disposal cost avoidance for the school district. Many local schools participate in the ABITIBITM Paper Retriever Program, which is a free program that promotes recycling by placing distinctive green and yellow Paper Retriever bins in highly visible areas at schools, churches and other non-profit organizations, which are then paid for the recyclable paper they and members of their surrounding community collect. Several schools employ other methods, such as contracting recycling services with a local hauler that may also generate revenue or offset disposal costs. Both types of programs are beneficial as they divert waste from disposal and turn it back into a useful resource, but equally as important are the savings realized by diverting waste from disposal.
If your school does not have a recycling program or you would like to increase participation in your existing program, contact us, we can help! Below are several useful guides to help start-up or revitalize a program.
- RecycleNow is a program guide that provides a five step approach to developing and implementing a school recycling program. (http://www.recyclenow.com/what_can_i_do_today/start_recycling_at.html)
- Earth 911 is a national organization that offers a lot of assistance and knowledge about environmental issues, specifically recycling. Tips from Earth 911 can be found at this link (http://earth911.com/recycling/paper/paper-recycling-at-school/) and provide a great educational value for students and their families. Using the links contained on the website allows educators and students to find a variety of standards-based activities that highlight the opportunities for increased paper recovery in their own schools and homes. Furthermore, there are video and case study highlights of the difference students can make for their school, their community and their environment.
- The Go Green Initiative is a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation. Founded in 2002, the Go Green Initiative unites parents, students, teachers and school administrators in an effort to make real and lasting changes in their campus communities that will protect children and the environment for years to come. http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/
Recycling everywhere else:
The United States EPA has developed the Recycle on the Go initiative to encourage recycling in public places like parks, stadiums, convention centers, shopping centers and at special events. The objectives of Recycle on the Go are to encourage the development of a recycling infrastructure away from home, increase the amount of waste collected for recycling, and promote a culture of recycling by making it convenient, available and cost effective.
The Niagara County Division of Environmental/Solid Waste Management is committed to encouraging Recycling on the Go. Currently, we have 55 ClearStream (photo) event recycling containers that can be used to collect beverage containers at outdoor concerts, venues, sporting events and any other function where beverage containers are used or sold. Not-for-profit organizations are welcomed to use these bins for fund-raising through the collection of deposit beverage containers. We really want you to use our bins, so if you are interested contact us at recycling@niagaracounty.com.
These bins were out and about last summer at the Lockport Molson Concert Series, Niagara County Fair, Lockport Cruise Nights, Niagara County Golf Course, and other events and venues. This winter we have expanded and began using bins in office buildings, high school dances and recently at the Lockport Y-10 race. We are trying to expand our bin count through another grant! We will let you know how we do in a couple of weeks.
Recycling in Niagara County: How are we doing?
Last year in Niagara County we only recycled about 10% of all the municipal solid waste that was generated. That number has been pretty consistent over the last 10 years, only fluctuating by 1 or 2 percentage points. The national he average recycling rate is 33% and New York State recycling goals have been established at 40%. Nineteen of twenty municipalities in Niagara County have access to full curbside collection programs where as much as 40% of the waste generated at homes can be recovered from curbside collection programs.
Locally, some municipalities do better than others, but overall recycling rates across the county are significantly below both national and statewide recycling targets. It is not all bad news! With some diligence, we can make those lines jump up closer to 30 and 40% in no time! Programs are already in place in most areas of Niagara County to recycle, all we have to do is start adding more to our bins! This website will be a useful tool for assisting each community to reach those goals. Start by learning what becomes of items that we toss into our recycling bins on the Beyond the Bin page.
Recycling not only makes sense, but it makes cents. When recycling is coordinated correctly it is cheaper and better than disposal, saving local governments money. The Waste Management page provides an overview of local solid waste management and follows the path to disposal in Niagara County. All waste that is generated in our community, and quite a bit more, is landfilled right here in Niagara County. When compared to recycling, disposal of recyclables is inefficient and does not offer any economic incentive compared to the benefits of recycling, such as creating local jobs, saving energy and conserving resources.
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59 Park Avenue
Lockport NY, 14094
Ph: 716.439.7240