GLOW Solid Waste Management Committee

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Programs

Household Hazardous Waste 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 2020 collection was held in Mt. Morris, Livingston County on September 19th. A separate electronics collection was held on September 26th, also in Mt. Morris. For a copy of the Executive Summary for this collection scroll to the Brochures, Materials & Services section of this website. A copy of final reports for both collectins can be obtained by contacting the GLOW office. The 2023 collection will be held August 26th in Livingston County. A separate electronics collection will be held on September 23th, also in Livingston County. See brochures under “Brochures and Materials”.

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, along with a host of other materials. All materials are accepted at no charge except for tires.

The mainstay of these programs is GLOW’s system of appointments. The day is broken into 15 minute intervals. 25-30 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 6 weeks before the collections and maintains a “Notification List” between events.

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 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 12 counties. The 2021 Partners are: GLOW (Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming), Allegany, Broome, Chautauqua, Monroe, Oneida-Herkimer, Seneca, Ontario and Steuben. The program can also be used by residents and farms.

The program is available via the Internet at www.mat-ex.org or emailed in pdf format twice a year. A limited number of hard copies are mailed upon request. 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:

  • A sound-proof booth that went from a Batavia business to a church in Louisiana
  • Barns
  • Heavy equipment
  • Office supplies and folders
  • Computers
  • Lockers
  • 1,000 plastic bin storage containers

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:

Backyard Composting Demonstration Sites

GLOW set up and maintains, with the assistance of managers at the sites, three Backyard Composting Education Demonstration Sites. The sites are located at:

  • Genesee County Park, at the interpretive Center off Bethany Center Rd.
  • Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, N. Java
  • Letchworth State Park, Trailside Lodge Nature Center (as of early May 2021)

Each of these sites consists of 10-11 homemade and manufactured composters, signage explaining how composting works, and a “Take One” box containing a packet of designs and information. Residents can examine the composters to get an idea of what size and type might work best for them.

Advertising Campaign 

Each year GLOW runs two (2) advertisements in local penny savers, one to encourage backyard composting and a second for the GLOW/NY Recycles program (see below). Those responding to the composting advertisement are sent a packet with a Home Composting Made Easy booklet, a compost static sticker, directions and information on how homemade and manufactured units, along with some other information. Sixty-five residents responded and received packets. From the responses GLOW draws a name for an Earth Machine composter. The 2022 composter was won by Cathy Maggio of Livingston County. Laurie McMememy of Genesee County won a food scrap bin for visiting the Genesee County Park and Forest Composting Demonstration site and answering four (4) questions related to the site. Residents responding to the GLOW/NY Recycles ad pledge to compost, recycle more and buy recycled content products. The first 60 residents responding to the ad (being published November 15, 2023 in local penny savers), are mailed a reusable ChicoBag.

GLOW/New York Recycles 

The twenty-fourth annual GLOW/New York/America Recycles Program, a program to encourage recycling, composting and the purchase of recycled content products will be held in November. GLOW continues its focus on schools in the region with an abbreviated program. On November 15th GLOW will email principals and environmental clubs at all area schools. Participating classes will be asked to describe their ongoing environmental efforts. Students in the top eight classrooms and environmental clubs will receive packets of GLOW’s post-it note pads. In 2019 four school groups participated including an environmental club at Keshequa Central School, a high school class at Oakfield-Alabama High School, the Honor Society at Pavilion Middle/High School and the Student Council at Perry Jr. High School. Fifty-two students received recycled content pens, New York Recycles calendars and post-it note pads. Though few in number, the submissions from those participating show real dedication to the environment. Likely due to the pandemic, there was no response from schools in 2022.

Presentations

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:

  • The Recycling Tree
  • Compost cross section
  • Various items made of recycled content

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:

  • Proper disposal of items like refrigerants, computers, hazardous substances
  • Hauler and recycler information and contacts
  • Establishment of recycling programs
  • Guidance as to relevant laws related to disposal and recycling
  • Grant availability

 


Home | About Us | Meeting Notices & Minutes | Programs
Brochures, Materials & Services
| Calendar of Events
Professional Memberships | Legislation | Contact Us

GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee
Genesee County Building 2, 3837 West Main Street Road
Batavia New York
14020-9404 USA
Contact: Amanda Lee
Phone: (585) 815-7906
Hotline: (800) 836-1154
Fax: (585) 345-3061
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