Ecopark

If you are in the process of upgrading electronics or appliances, be sure that your old items are properly disposed or recycled. Trade ins, selling, or donating working items are all great ways to reuse these materials and recycling is the next best option. Appliances and electronics DO NOT belong in the blue bin and in some cases it is illegal to dispose of them curbside. The ecopark accepts many types of electronics and appliances (fees apply for TV and computer monitors and freon-containing items, but no appointment is needed). See our website for additional information https://www.monroecounty.gov/ecopark/

Check out this recycling truck from 1990! As our community sought to ramp up curbside recycling efforts, many pieces of the puzzle needed to fall into place first. Hauling companies had to purchase new trucks that allowed for sorting of materials at the curb and hire new drivers for the recycling collection route. The County was seeking to build a multi-million dollar recycling center to handle all of the materials collected curbside and market them for resale. A D&C article ...from 1990 reads, Recycling means an investment for both municipalities and haulers. The biggest benefit, they say, is trying to minimize damage to the environmentsomething which can’t be measured on a balance sheetRecycling requires new equipment, workers have to take the time to separate the recyclable materials collected from curbside boxes, and some haulers have two separate runs on each routeone to collect recyclables from blue boxes and the other for regular trash." See more

Planning to get a new TV or computer in the near future? Make sure that your old one finds a good home, whether you sell it, donate it, or recycle it. Just be sure you don't leave it out on the curb; that's illegal and can cause environmental damage due to hazardous components. The ecopark accepts TVs and all sorts of other electronics for recycling, through our partner Sunnking during all operational hours, no appointment required.

Did you get our latest electronic newsletter? You can read it here and find out when a mobile hazardous waste collection will be in your neighborhood in 2021! https://conta.cc/2N3RBOA

Utilizing reusable mugs and containers at coffee shops and other retailers may be a challenge at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions, but you can still do your part to reduce waste and prevent recycling contamination by taking these steps: Keep single-use cups, lids, and straws out of recycling bins Skip a lid, straw or stirrer by letting your server know if you don’t need these items. Brew your own coffee or tea at home and avoid take-out waste altogether.

Go behind the scenes of this weekend's Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection with this great video put together by Monroe County's Department of Environmental Service's Director Mike Garland! Big thanks to the hard-working women & men of #MonroeCounty DES and Town of Irondequoit DPW. 400+ residents served! 16 tons of waste diverted from sewers & landfills! https://www.youtube.com/watch

The NYSDEC will begin enforcement of the plastic bag ban TODAY October 19. While paper bags are recyclable curbside, remember the 3Rs have an order. 1. Reduce 2. Reuse, and then 3. Recycle. That means we should first reduce our use of all single use plastic bags, both plastic and paper, by going reusable, so remember #BYObagNY

As Halloween approaches, get crafty and creative with your costume and decorations: Reuse and repurpose items from around the house or outside, such as using leaves, acorns, or pine cones in craft projects. Reuse clothing, other accessories or give a past costume a new twist. When carving jack-o’-lanterns, roast those tasty seeds and compost pumpkins after the celebration!

Next week, on Oct 19, the DEC will officially start enforcing the plastic bag ban. You won't get plastic bags from retailers anymore (with several exceptions) and you may be charged $.05 per paper bag, but the best option environmentally is to bring your own reusable bags. Get back into the habit of keeping them with you, cleaning them regularly, and recycling your other types of flexible plastic film and wraps back at retailers. https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/121415.html

We're probably not the first ones to tell you, but just in case you haven't heard, it's Prime Day. The amount of online shopping being done recently has resulted in a shift of packaging being recycled at retail stores to more products being shipped and recycled at home. That means it's more important than ever that you recycle correctly. Here are some of the most common online shipping materials and how to properly recycle them: 1. Cardboard Boxes: empty and flatten them, kee...p them dry, and recycle curbside! 2. Plastic shipping envelopes: whether or not they contain bubble wrap, they can be recycled at the ecopark or retailers in the plastic bag recycling bin, NOT curbside! 3. Paper shipping envelopes: a manila envelope on it's own is recyclable curbside, but if it's padded, this mixed material must go in the trash. 4. Plastic air pillows: deflate and recycle at ecopark or retailers in plastic bag recycling bin, NOT curbside! Always try to reuse items before recycling them, and when it doubt, leave it out of your recycling bin or check our Recyclopedia https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/DES/recyclopedia.pdf. See more

Doing some fall clean up and come across chemicals that need proper disposal? Book an appointment today for one of our mobile collections or at the ecopark!

What's the deal with the plastic bag ban? Well, it's been in effect since March 1st of this year, but hasn't been enforced by the DEC. That's going to change starting Oct 19. You won't get plastic bags from retailers anymore (with several exceptions) and you may be charged $.05 per paper bag, but the best option environmentally is to bring your own reusable bags. Get back into the habit of keeping them with you, cleaning them regularly, and recycling your other types of flexible plastic film and wraps back at retailers. https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/121415.html

Fall brings to mind so many fun things from apple picking and corn mazes to cider & donuts, but it also means... leaves. Don't spend your weekends bagging leaves an dragging them to the curb. Try this pallet compost bin we built out of repurposed pallets and zip ties. It takes less than an hour, and is actually a great compost bin, due to the way the pallets create structure to the pile, but also allow ventilation. Practically free, super fast to build, and it allows you to compost a large amount of material. https://diyready.com/compost-bin-diy-quick-pallet-project/

Boo! Are you ready for Halloween? Instead of buying new costumes this year, arrange a swap with family and friends to trade old costumes. If you're shopping for a costume, consider browsing one of the many thrift stores in our community. Or make your own costume with materials you already have at home and/or recycled materials!

We still have two remaining mobile HHW collections, on October 17th in Irondequoit and on October 31st in Hilton. Book an appointment for either event or for our weekly HHW collections at the ecopark on our website today.

If you booked an appointment for tomorrow's mobile HHW collection in the Town of Perinton then you're going to get to see our our newly wrapped education and outreach trailers up close! Check out the fresh, colorful graphics designed by local artist Chris Lyons, a nationally recognized illustrator. We love the way they illustrate recyclables in a fun, easily recognizable way, while conveying the importance of proper recycling practices. Remember, recycling right begins with you! *Note: tomorrow's mobile collection is FULL.. Check our website for other upcoming mobile collections and twice a week collections at the ecopark.