2014 Fall Newsletter

October 2014
Issue 5, Page 1
Town of New Paltz ReUse and
Recycling Center
Blazing the Way for
Other Communities
By Laura Petit
Based on the volume of phone calls
recently with inquiries about New Paltz’s
Zero Waste Initiative and the ReUse building from outside of Ulster County, the pilot
project begun in partnership with the EPA
has gained national attention. New Paltz
Recycling Coordinator was recently interviewed as part of a survey being conducted
by Columbia University post graduates to
create a similar zero waste program for the
Town and Village of Mamaroneck including
the Village of Larchmont in Westchester
County. Communities are interested in the
positive environmental impacts of being
part of a zero waste program and are
equally interested in the cost savings. The
initial result of a zero waste program is the
reduction of garbage being sent out for disposal. In New Paltz’s case, tonnages
dropped by 60% over a five year period.
Although the landfill revenue line is down ,
that revenue loss is nullified by the savings
for disposal fees. Sale of scrap materials
and ReUse Center sales have increased by
3X the landfill fees lost. The ReUse that
was built in 2011 and 50% reimbursed by
NYSDEC grants will have paid for itself by
the end of 2016.
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Acceptable Materials
A Wearable clothing items from households,
paired shoes, pocketbooks, draperies and
household textiles, such as curtains, sheets, bed
spreads, bed throws, towels of any size and pillowcases. All articles shall be free from any wetness, moisture, grease, mold, solvents or food
waste.
Unacceptable Materials
Rugs, carpets, bed pillows, industrial uniforms,
disposable clothing, hospital or medical garments or blankets, diapers (of any type). Also,
do not include any industrial textiles such as
tobacco cloth, painters drop cloths, theatrical
curtains, textile waste, wiping rags and shop
towels.
Peek Inside the ReUse Center
Issue 3, Page 2
The Town of New Paltz
ReUse and Recycling Center
Public Outreach
ReUse and Recycling Center
Reform Church Apple Fest
and Climate Action Coalition
Winterization Fair
The Reform Church Apple Festival is held the first
Saturday in October and features homemade Apple
and pumpkin pies and the Junior Choir Apple Fritters,
food, drink and games. It's was a great way for the
community to spend time together and learn about
making apple butter over an open campfire.
Despite continuous rain, many people came out to
learn more about our community’s agricultural heritage and about seasonal harvests.
Be Wise – WINTERIZE” Home Energy Fair November 16th
For people looking to save money and energy, the Climate Action Coalition will host a free Home Energy
Fair “Be Wise – WINTERIZE !” on November 16th
from 2 pm to 5 pm at the New Paltz Village Hall on
Plattekill Avenue. Fair-goers were able to speak directly with local builders and energy experts and learn
how to prepare their homes for the coming heating season. It is also a family event, with children’s activities,
refreshments and prizes.
There were a variety of demonstrations: energy-saving
windows and doors, insulation, sealing drafts, thermostats, carbon monoxide detectors, heating systems,
electricity reduction, rebate programs, and more. Special guest presenters will talk about replacement windows and sealing existing windows; how to install and
use programmable thermostats; and insulating attic
hatches.
Since home heating energy is one of our nation’s
largest contributors to green house gases, winterizing our
homes will help reduce our energy footprint - and save
people money. Representatives from RUPCO were also
there encouraging fair goers to sign up for a free home
energy audit.
Issue 3, Page 3
Social Media
The Town of New Paltz
ReUse and Recycling Center
New Paltz Promoting a Mid Hudson Valley ReUse Network
In August 2014 representatives
from five Mid-Hudson counties and several municipal representatives met at the New
Paltz ReUse Center to share
information and ideas to begin
shaping a mid-Hudson regional reuse program. This
roundtable of interested participants met to discuss the
possibility of a Mid-Hudson
Regional Reuse Network
(MHVRRN) to further reduce
the amount of usable materials
that are being discarded in the
waste stream.
William Cutler, Recycling Recycling Coordinator Sullivan
County: “I really think a regionwide, unified branding
reuse campaign could help all
of us (at very low/no cost) in
ways specific to each of our
unique program needs across
the Hudson-Catskills ReUse
Network. Towns, villages and
counties could each encourage
materials reuse in their own
unique way that suits their
individual communities
while enjoying promotional
support from other members
of the team. ”
The economic advantage of
reuse program is apparent
through lower garbage disposal costs and a new revenue line from sales of diverted material, however, the
financial concern voiced
throughout the roundtable
discussion was for “brick
and mortar” start up costs.
However, the idea of alternative uses for Material Recovery Facilities under-utilized
due to single stream recycling, virtual ReUse Centers
and low costs pole barns or
sheds may suit the needs of
the community.
Each municipality/County
should evaluated the dynamics of their community to
determine what type of reuse
program would be most ef-
fective. Rob Jameson, Mass
Mosaic said he has been
working with mobile “pop up”
kiosks. The idea of temporary
kiosks that can be used at
events for swapping/selling/
giveaway for short periods or
at shopping centers is a viable
brick and mortar alternative.
Rob added that “on-line virtual reuse centers” may provide the answer for municipalities prohibited by capital
investment costs. A regional
logo and network hub should
also be incorporated into the
regional program and a resource page to find each reuse
center, shed or take away location. Each municipality
plans to create its own unique
reuse program. Laura Petit,
Recycling Coordinator for the
Town of New Paltz said,
“Although the landfill fees
collected are reduced every
year, the budget line for disposal is also being reduced.”
Laura Petit, Recycling
Coordinator for the Town
of New Paltz said, “A
waste diversion to reuse
program is a win-win for
the public and the environment. Sustainable materials management is the
only way to manage the
waste stream.”
Tweetin’ & Bloggin’
On October 21 Region 3 held a meeting at
the DEC headquarters in New Paltz to discuss organics diversion. The meeting was
well received with 30 attendees from all
aspects of the subject and was a good precursor to the Lower Hudson Valley Organics Summit to be held this spring by the
NYSAR3 Organics Council. The EPA,
haulers, processors and generators all had
the opportunity to present their concerns
and issues and brainstorm solutions. In an
The ReUse and Recycling Center’s twitter account is
npreusecenter or #NPRRC. Tweets will provide you with
newsworthy updates about the “going ons” at our site, upcoming workshops, blog posts, links to media hits, quotes
from the media, and sustainable ideas/crafts.
Be sure to follow us so you don’t miss out on any events or
workshops.
Issue 3, Page 4
The Town of New Paltz
ReUse and Recycling Center
Campus Outreach
ReUse and Recycling Center
Getting the Community Involved
New Paltz ReUse and Recycling Center
fosters civic involvement through its volunteer
opportunities and educational programs. We
have partnered with many dedicated environmental organizations including SUNY New
Paltz amd students who have continued to come
out and offer their talents and skills. Many programs now in place were created with the help of
SUNY businesses, environmental, marketing,
sociology and art students.
Recycling Club President James Accordino and VP Gabby Buck, presented at the
September 18th Unveiling of the Zero Waste
Action Plan. They reviewed campus actions to
reduce waste and spoke about the year end campus cleanup.
On October 18th Make a Difference Day
almost thirty students spent the day working at
the Recycling and ReUse Center . Students broke
up into five groups. One group worked on the
pine tree seedlings and cleared around the shed
before finishing murals that were started at last
year’s event. Once the shed was painted and
cleaned, bike were put inside and a sign went up
dubbing the shed “Ye Olde Bike Shed”. Another
group finished the greenhouse that will eventually be used to start plants for the demonstration
gardens. All that is needed for the greenhouse is
a corrugated plastic roof. The last group worked
in the ReUse center straightening and stocking
shelves.
New Paltz students are a continuing resource for the New
Paltz ReUse and Recycling program.