Recycling

Every year, Americans create more than 250 million tons of garbage. Most of the materials that Americans are throwing away can be recycled, but many Americans don't have the educational background they need to make recycling a normal behavior in daily life.

Schenectady County Recycles is a collaborative partnership between Schenectady County and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County, committed to raising awareness of the environmental solutions related to sustainable materials management through a Recycling Outreach and Education Program. CCE staff offers free educational opportunities and resources for both youth and adults to learn about waste reduction through recycling, composting, and through adopting a re-use lifestyle. 

There are countless ways that recycling can nurture citizenship skills and help protect our planet.  

• Recycling can show leadership and environmental stewardship in your family, business, and community.
• Recycling can help improve the lives of others by donating unwanted materials to charitable organizations.
• Recycling extends the life-cycle of products, which diverts material from landfills.
• Recycling reduces the air, land, and water pollution that threatens many plant and animal ecosystems.
• Recycling reduces the demand on the natural environment for the raw materials needed to create new products.
• Recycling supports the economy by creating jobs in local and global industries.
• Recycling can save money through creative re-use, food-scrap composting, and by reducing waste disposal costs. 

This webpage features resources to help families, landlords, businesses, and schools promote recycling as a core value. Questions about recycling or improving your recycling program? We can help! Contact the Recycling Educator to inquire about the educational services Cornell Cooperative Extension offers community groups, public events, and schools, or call with general questions about what and where to recycle, donate unwanted items, and safely dispose of Household Hazardous Waste.  

View the Recycling Fact Sheet Here

Check out the new Recycling e-magazine 

"Re-thinking Our Waste" 

Click Here to view June 2017 issue

Click here to view May 2017 issue

Click here to view April 2017 issue

Last updated June 21, 2017