Recycling

Schenectady County Recycles!

Schenectady County Recycles is a collaborative partnership between Schenectady County and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County, funded by Schenectady County with the support of grants through the NYS DEC and NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

The Schenectady County Recycles program is tasked with performing educational outreach initiatives and community engagement programming for youth and adults in Schenectady County communities, with the goals of reducing the amount of municipal solid waste being sent to landfills while increasing material recovery by promoting single stream recycling and other forms of waste reduction. 

Schenectady County Recycles works to achieve these goals through many initiatives:

-recycling education for residents, children, community groups, schools, businesses, and landlords

-community outreach and engagement at street fairs, farmers markets, or other events

-informative and hands-on composting demonstrations and workshops

-free lecture series and workshops about recycling, waste reduction, upcycling, and zero waste living

-streamlined communication about local recycling programs across all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, twitter, and a monthly electronic magazine publication)

In addition to outreach about single stream recycling, Schenectady County Recycles educates its program participants about all of the materials that can be diverted from the landfill: 

-local textile recovery and recycling programs 

-film plastic recycling

-food waste composting

-reuse through donating unwanted items

-safe disposal of household hazardous wastes like paint, chemicals, lightbulbs, medications, or home use medical needles

-general education about the environmental, economic, and social impacts of solid waste

Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and volunteers are here for you to learn more about recycling and the value of waste reduction. We offer free access to information and free educational programming for Schenectady County youth and families. 

Why is recycling such an important life-skill?

• Recycling shows leadership and environmental stewardship in your family, business, and community.
• Recycling extends the life-cycle of products, which diverts material from landfills, and conserves landfill space for future generations.
• 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 is a form of natural resource conservation.
• Recycling supports the economy by creating jobs in local and global industries.
• Recycling can help improve the lives of others by donating unwanted materials to charitable organizations.
• Recycling can save money through creative re-use, food-scrap composting, and by reducing waste disposal costs. 

 Questions about recycling in Schenectady County? We can help! Contact the Recycling Educator with general questions about what and where to recycle, donate unwanted items, and safely dispose of Household Hazardous Waste.  

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View the Recycling Fact Sheet here!

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Last updated June 19, 2018