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Notices & Minutes | Programs Programs Household Hazardous Waste / Pharmaceutical Collections Having conducted a successful Clean Sweep program for disposal of farm pesticides in 1995, GLOW began the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program in 1995. GLOW held two collections each year, alternating counties (though they are always open to residents in all of GLOW’s funding counties) in 1997 and 1998. In 1999 GLOW held a second farm pesticide collection, having received funding from the EPA to do so. In 2000 GLOW resumed the household hazardous waste collections, conducting two collections each May, until 2003. Single collections began in 2004 and are expected to continue. The 2010 collection was held in Batavia, Genesee county For a copy of the Executive Summary for this collection scroll to the Brochures, Materials & Services section of this website. A copy of the 2010 Final Report will be mailed upon request if desired. The 2011 Collection will be held September 17 in Livingston County. To make an appointment call the GLOW office or email the Appointment form listed under the Brochures, Materials and Services section of this website. These collections provide residents with an opportunity to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and cleaning products, pesticides, oil base paint, varnish and furniture strippers, vehicle fluids and oil filters, lead-acid batteries and propane tanks Vs and home computers, along with a host of other materials. All materials are accepted at no charge except for tires. The mainstay of the program is GLOW’s system of appointments. The day is broken into 15 minute intervals. 25 residents are scheduled for each interval. This system allows GLOW and its vendors to unload resident’s vehicles quickly and efficiently. It allows GLOW to educate residents when they call for an appointment and helps control costs by limiting the number of residents and having residents bring only the accepted materials. GLOW begins to take appointments 2 months before the collection and maintains a “Notification List” between events. To be placed on a "notification" list for the 2012 collection (tentatively schedules for the fall in Wyoming County) so that you receive a post card telling you that appointments are being accepted, complete and email or fax the form in "Brochures, Materials and Services" section of this website. Mat-Ex: Western/Central New York Materials Exchange Mat-Ex is a reuse program that was started by GLOW and two other counties in 1992 to provide businesses, institutions and 9 government agencies with a means of disposing of scrap or surplus items without landfilling or incinerating them. In 1997 GLOW assumed administrative functions of the program and invited other counties to join as partners. The program now encompasses most of Western and Central New York State and includes 14 counties. The 2011 Partners are: GLOW (Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming), Allegany, Broome, Chautauqua, Monroe, Oneida-Herkimer, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga and Western Finger Lakes Region (Wayne and Yates). The program can also be used by residents and farms. The program is available via the Internet at www.mat-ex.org or by a hardcopy catalog, which is published three times per year. Items can be listed under “Materials Available” or “Materials Wanted”. Listed materials must be non-hazardous and things that would otherwise be destined for a landfill or incinerator. Materials should be listed for free, or at minimal cost. The program is not to be used to make a profit or commercial gain. Listers are contacted directly by those interested in the material. Neither GLOW nor its Partners take physical possession of the materials. Transportation arrangements are made directly between the Lister and the Respondent. Those using the program are required to track exchanges and provide the information to GLOW. Doing so provides GLOW with information to measure the program’s success, justify funding and calculate recovery rates. Over the years this program has kept thousands of tons of materials out of area landfills and incinerators. Notable exchanges include the following:
Backyard Composting It is estimated that 15% of residential waste consists of yard waste. An additional 1 to 2% is food waste. When multiplied by the number of households in the Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming County region this represents a significant amount of waste. And it makes little sense for this material to be landfilled, where it will be entombed and see very little biodegradation. The solution? Composting. From the beginning GLOW has encouraged this very simple solution to a large problem. GLOW encourages composting through the following:
America Recycles GLOW continues to participate in this national program that promotes composting, buying recycled content products and recycling. The program, which began in 1997 as America Recycles Day, asks people to sign pledge cards to show their commitment to recycling. By doing so they are eligible to win local, regional, state and national prizes. GLOW has participated in the program since its start by running advertisements in local pennysavers and papers and by giving away an Earth Machine® composter (donated by Norseman Plastics, Inc.) Western NY Recycles The Western New York Recycles
Committee was formed approximately 14 years ago, as America Recycles Day was in its infancy.
The group has promoted the program in Western New York from that time on. It is made up of municipal recycling
coordinators and private sector business sponsors and donors. The 2010 program included GLOW Region Solid Waste
(Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming Counties), Monroe County, Niagara County, Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste
Authority (Wayne and Yates Counties). Corporate sponsors include: Abitibi/Bowater Recycling (iPod Shuffles),
Wegmans Food Markets (gift cards) and WROC/Fox TV (station tours). Additional donors included Darien LakeTheme
Resort (passes), Liberty Tire Recycling (tire mulch), McDonalds of Mt. Morris (coupons) and Cascades Recovery
(zoo passes). In addition reusable bags, coloring books, water bottles and a rain barrel were donated by member
counties and individuals. In 2010 the Committee once again focused its primary efforts on schools in the region.
A packet, containing bullet points, prize information and pledge cards was sent either by mail or electronically
to schools in the region. Rather than just asking that students to sign pledge cards, the Committee asked that
participating schools describe their ongoing environmental efforts and/or provide documentation of a new activity
or effort. The results were impressive. Nine schools participated in the Western New York program including:
Avon Middle School, Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls, Dalton Elementary, Drake Elementary, Kelley School,
Starpoint Intermediate, Spry Middle, Warsaw Middle/High and Wyoming Central. The schools recycle in their
cafeterias, collect cell phones, toner cartridges, juice box pouches and paper for recycling and reuse.
One school held a locker clean out, recycled what they could and donated reusable school supplies to inner city
schools. Over 2,500 pledges were received by the Committee. The Western NY
Committee was pleased with the response to the
program and is looking forward to 2011. One of GLOW’s primary roles is education-to both children and adults. Staff participates in events such as Cooperative Extension’s Conservation Education Field Days, as well as Earth Day and other events. Staff is available to do school, as well as community presentations. Teaching tools include:
Feel free to contact the GLOW office to make arrangements for a presentation at your location. This service is provided at No Charge to schools and community groups in GLOW’s funding counties. Stop Unwanted Junk Mail One of the best, and easiest ways to reduce waste is to eliminate unwanted junk mail. GLOW has a “Stop Junk Mail” postcard that will do just that. By filling it out and mailing it to the Direct Marketing Association (the card is pre-addressed) you can be taken off junk mail lists for five (5) years. By calling a toll free number on the instruction section of the card, you can be removed from credit card solicitation lists-permanently if you so choose. Contact the GLOW office to obtain the cards or copy and mail the information located in the Brochures, Materials and Services section of this website. Technical Assistance One advantage of a cooperative effort that spans multiple counties and is focused on one issue (waste) is that information can be compiled and available from just one source. The GLOW office has information on a variety of waste/recycling/reuse related topics. This information is provided to residents, schools, municipalities, institutions and farmers. Information that has been provided in the past includes:
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