NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling at State Agencies

Debbie Jackson

NYSDEC

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Presentation Summary

• Barriers

• Waste Reduction

• Reuse

• Recycling

•On-line Tools

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Barriers Identify perceived and actual barriers

• Start small, evaluate, fine tune and improve

• Buy-in from top down

• Develop policies and procedures

• Examine existing contracts

• Markets

• Training

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Some Barriers• Leased Facility• Present Waste Hauler Contracts• Lack of Interest by Management• Lack of Interest by Staff• Lack of Storage Space• No money

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Waste ReductionPut the responsibility on the suppliers • Make copiers and printers meet

specifications including using recycled content paper and double sided

• Include take back clauses in contracts

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Reuse• Set up a Reuse Area• Provide information on internal web site

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

RecyclingRequired by• EO4• Local Recycling Laws

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

RecyclingBasics• Paper, Plastics, Glass, Metal

Auto/Fleet• Oil, Vehicle Batteries, Antifreeze

Odd Recyclables• http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_

minerals_pdf/oddrecyclables.pdf

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Waste Haulers• Single Stream

• Dual Stream

• Renegotiate Contracts!

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Waste Audits• Check the OGS EO4 website for the

Waste Audit Webinar• Check the OGS EO4 website for the

Waste Audit Manual

Just

Kidding!

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Education• Commitment - from the top!• Communication – repeat often• Incentives – little things go a long way

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Events• NY/America Recycles Day - November 15• Earth Day - April 22

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC’s ARD/NY Recycles Event

We will also collect the following for Reuse -These items are for the Staff Exchange – Materials brought in, can be taken by any staff person - - you don’t have to bring stuff in to take stuff!

• Book/Magazine Exchange - Gently used books and magazines (2011 magazines only).  NO TEXTBOOKS or Dirty Magazines (sorry)

• CD Music/DVD Movie Exchange (no dirty movies either)• Neck Ties (plus a contest for the ugliest tie)• Wine Corks • Silverware and Plates for DEC events (Will be available for use by

other Divisions when needed)• Toys (must be gently used, clean, not broken) • House Plants•  

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

These items will be collected and donated to local charities:

• Coats

• Sneakers and Shoes (non-usable sneakers will be sent to

Nike Reuse-a-shoe for recycling, if in good condition

they'll be reused) 

• Eye Glasses (donated to the Lions Club)

• Food Collection (non-perishable food for the local food pantry)

• Personal Care Products (battered women’s shelter)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

We will be collecting the following for Recycling (The bins for these materials are on the 9th floor all year long) -   3.5" Disks   Batteries - (NO ALKALINE BATTERIES!!!)       Nickel Cadmium Batteries

Nickel-Metal Hydride      Small Sealed Lead Acid Batteries      Button Batteries

 CD's  Cassette Tapes Cell Phones Ink Jet Cartridges  Plastic 6 - Ring Holders Styrofoam Peanuts  Tyvek Envelopes  

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

• We will have several Contests with prizes - - recycled soda bottle tote bags, reusable mugs, and 2012 New York Recycles Calendars.

 • And to top it off... as if all this wasn't enough....

 • We will be having Cake at 10:00. 

You MUST bring your own reusable plate and fork, and a napkin (if you want a piece of cake).  None will be provided. PLEASE NOTE:  NO state funds will be used to purchase this cake!

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

How We Use Incentives

• Contests and Give AwaysContest Example….

New York Recycles Day Quiz Name:______________ 

What day is America/NY Recycles Day? _____________________ 

What four (4) office items are collected for reuse at 625 Broadway?

What four (4) odd recyclables are collected for recycling at 625 Broadway?

Bonus Question? What items should we add to our NY Recycles Day Event?

We can email examples of contests

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Rechargeable Battery & Electronics Law

Rechargeable Batteries –

Banned from landfills on Dec. 5, 2011

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html

Call2Recycle Program –

www.call2recycle.org

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Electronics Recycling Law –

Electronics banned from landfills -

Jan. 1, 2012

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/65583.html

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

On line Tools

• Warm Model

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/iwarm/index.htm

• Waste Audit

http://ogs.ny.gov/EO/4/RptSubcommittee.asp• DEC Educational Materials

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8801.html

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Questions?

Contact Information

Debbie Jackson

NYSDEC

518-402-8706

dajackso@gw.dec.state.ny.us