Recycling in Western New York

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Recycling in Western New York

Gary Carrel
Erie County Recycling Coordinator
Edward A. Rath Building
95 Franklin St. Room 1077
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 858-6236
E-Mail: recycle@erie.gov

What is Recycling?

"Recycling" means separating, collecting, processing, marketing, and ultimately using a material that would have been thrown away. Today's newspaper can be recycled for another newspaper or other paper products. Cans and bottles can be crafted for other uses. Click on this link to learn how to prepare a Recycling Bin.

When a product has been recycled and then reused as a new product, the recycling loop has been closed. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used over and over with no loss in quality. The process of creating new glass from old is also extremely efficient, producing virtually no waste or unwanted byproducts.

Quality products and packaging are being made from recovered materials. We can all help create markets for recyclables by buying and using these products.

Why Should We Recycle?

Recycling reduces our reliance on landfills and incinerators.
Recycling protects our health and environment when harmful substances are removed from the waste stream.
Recycling conserves our natural resources because it reduces the need for raw materials.

What Can Be Recycled?

Paper - newspaper, office paper, cardboard, and other paper types.
Yard Trimmings - grass, leaves, shrub and tree clippings are recycled by composting.
Glass - bottles and jars (clear, green, and amber).
Aluminum - beverage containers, almost anything.
Other metals - steel cans, auto bodies, refrigerators (coolants such as freon typically require special recovery and recycling procedures), and stoves.
Batteries - both dry cell (toy/watch/flashlight batteries) and wet cell (vehicle batteries).
Used motor oil - vehicle crankcase oil and oil filters.
Plastics - soda bottles, milk jugs, bags, detergent containers, again, almost anything.
Other household items - such as clothes and furniture are often "recycled" by donating them to charities, theater groups, and service groups that will repair and sell them or distribute and use them. This is more correctly classified as "reuse" than "recycling" since the items are not broken down into their constituent materials and reformed into new products. Tires are also recycled.

Where Do I Get a Recycling Blue Bin?

City of Buffalo

Recycling Blue Bin contacts
Name of Organization	Address	Phone
COPS International Market	283 Grant Street	884-7812
COPS Gloria Parks	3242 Main Street	851-4112
Parkside Community Association	2318 Main Street	851-4324
FLARE	302 Leroy Ave	838-6740
Matt Urban Center	1081 Broadway	893-7222
Ken-Bailey NHS	995 Kensington Ave	836-3600
Hispanic United of Buffalo	254 Virginia Street	856-7110
Lovejoy District Neighborhood Revitalization Services	615 Walden Ave	896-5010
NW Buffalo Community Center	155 Lawn Ave	876-8108
NHS of South Buffalo	1937 South Park Ave	823-3630
City Hall	65 Niagara Square Room 604	851-4513

Other Erie County Municipalities

Call your local town, village or city offices or call the Erie County Recycling Hotline at 858-6996.

How Do I Recycle?

Curbside Collection is the most convenient way for a household to recycle. These programs offer scheduled pickup of separated, recyclable products from the curb - like trash collection. The company performing the pickup service will generally supply homes on the pickup route with specially marked containers for holding the items to be collected. Unfortunately, curbside pickup is not available in all communities.

Drop-off Centers are sites set up for us to leave materials for recycling. They serve as convenient central pick-up locations for processors or recyclers. Buy Back Centers pay consumers for recyclable materials. Many people recycle aluminum cans, plastic and glass pop bottles at buy-back centers.

Waste Companies buy recyclables from offices, businesses, institutions, schools, and industries. They may be contracted by a local government to provide curbside collection to private homes.

Reuse Facilities such as the Salvation Army, pawn shops, thrift stores, antique stores, Goodwill, and community organizations like Computers for Children, or the Buffalo Architectural Salvage Committee will accept donated items and in many cases will pick them up for you.

Take advantage of businesses and organizations that provide collection opportunities. For example, many grocery stores collect bags for recycling, garages often accept used motor oil, auto supply stores typically buy-back used vehicle batteries, and scout groups collect newspapers as a fund raising event. There are also Erie County sponsored Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days, for getting rid of that hazardous material sitting under the sink or on a shelf in the garage or basement.

Think of ways to reduce the amount of material that gets added to the waste stream. Don't throw away what you can use again. Leave grass clipping on the lawn or compost them with other yard and kitchen waste. Donate unwanted items that are in good, or at least, repairable, condition.

For more information about recycling, check out the Reusable News Bulletin, or call the recycling hotline at 800-CLEAN UP (800-253-2687).

Recycling In Erie County

Recycling in Erie County will reduce the amount of waste disposed, conserve natural resources, and, in some situations, generate revenue for the local government. Yet the success of recycling is dependent on the participation of the community as a whole by demonstrating an awareness for recyclable goods and buying recycled products. For more information on buying recycled products, click here.

Where Does Recycled Material Go?

Where Recycled Material Goes
Wood: wood fuel, mulch, fiber based material	Glass: reuse windows/mirrors, glasphalt
Concrete: roadbase, fill material, aggregate, riprap for harbors	Drywall: new drywall or animal bedding
Asphalt: roadbase material or patches for roads	Rubble: drainage beds or landfill covers