New Paltz ReUse Center

The ReUse and Recycling Center sees used materials as a commodity with an overlooked economic value. Tons of construction materials, household items, office and art materials, and electronics unnecessarily enter the transfer station and are destined for a landfill.

In 2011, New Paltz was offered the opportunity to partner with EPA as one of thirteen municipalities nationally to participate in a zero waste initiative. New Paltz has created a zero waste action plan which was adopted by both Village and Town boards leading the way to achieve its 2018 zero waste goals. Zero Waste Action PlanAlthough New Paltz operates a municipal drop-off center and accepts garbage from permitted users for a fee see 2017 Fee Schedule, it strongly encourages waste reduction, diversion and recycling. The mission of the New Paltz ReUse Center and Municipal Recycling Drop-Off Center is to create a sustainable standard of living by promoting local purchasing, creating green jobs and diverting usable materials out of the waste stream through a sustainable materials management program. Start up funding for the ReUse Center was received from the NYSDEC to implement the waste diversion program including a new building to store reusable items. A large part of this program is education including monthly workshops or swaps.

The maximum reuse of materials is a priority in New Paltz as part of its pledge to become a Zero Waste community. At the ReUse and Recycling Center, you can find answers to questions and discuss creative reuse solutions with employees and volunteers. New Paltz ReUse and Recycling Center fosters civic involvement through its volunteer opportunities and educational programs. Workshops on topics ranging from the technical (Computer Hardware 101) to the creative (Green Gift Giving) to Sustainability (Tool Fix It Workshops and Permaculture). Networking will draw on the talents of community members and offer inspiration through promoting personal growth and skills development for all.New Paltz ReUse also plans to collaborate with human services agencies, educational institutions, trade unions, local government and existing reuse programs to provide new training opportunities for their students, apprentices and clients. At the ReUse and Recycling Center, underserved members of our community are finding an open and welcoming environment where they can learn job skills through volunteering, take and share responsibility, be part of a team, undertake challenges and receive recognition for their accomplishments.

Our goal is to reduce waste through an intense diversion process to remove reusable household and construction materials from the waste stream. This goal includes:

• Outreach and education to promote smart shopping to help people avoid excessive and hard to recycle packaging.
• Connect individuals wanting to discard goods with individuals looking to acquire those good.
• Assist other communities to develop similar reuse programs.

Open 5 Days a Week! Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00am – 4:30pm

Open since April 2011, the ReUse Center has been upgraded from storage trailers to a permanent building. ReUse Brochure. Home Décor materials: lamps, lighting fixtures, sinks, vanities, materials to create your own unique decorations. Also available are art supplies, office supplies (binders, folders, labels), fabrics, card stock, lithographs, and much more. Materials and quantities change frequently, so stop by often and check out what’s available. For more information call (845) 255-8456 or email us at recycling@townofnewpaltz.org

Donation Guidelines The New Paltz Reuse Center on 3 Clearwater Road off Route 32 takes usable materials that are destined for landfills located over four and a half hours away, and redirects them to the ReUse Center, an onsitewarehouse, so they can be repurposed. The variety of rescued materials on hand opens the imaginative minds of our community. Teachers of all grades have given feedback that our supplies are perfect for engaging children in positive, mind-stimulating activities; help explain environmental impacts of reusing; and, artists have given feedback that our materials helped to add the finishing touch on a “masterpiece”. Cardboard materials such as tubes and cones, yarns, large pieces or bolts of fabrics, beads, unused ceramic tile, etc are amongst the items that we are accepting to restock our ReUse center. So consider clearing out old stock from your store or cleaning out your craft room to donate to the New Paltz ReUse Center. (845) 255-8456

Recycling

Empty and rinse containers before recycling. Remove items from bags and boxes before placing them in recycling containers!Recycling labels are available in the ReUse and Recycling Office.

EWaste (Electronic Material)

WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING E-WASTE. The UCRRA takes it at their Kingston facility at 999 Flatbush Road (Route 32 by the Rhinecliff Bridge) in Kingston Monday through Friday from 8amto 3pm for FREE. Call (845) 336-0600.E-Waste is PROHIBITED from the waste stream (garbage containers) and is classified as: Computers, servers, monitors, printers, keyboards, VCRs, batteries, cell phones, terminals, cables, wires, power supplies, fax machines, radios, modems, CRTs, corded and cordless telephones, TVs, CPUs, copiers, scanners; cassette, CD and DVD players; typewriters, stereo equipment & more.

DON’T INCLUDE  the following with your metal, glass and plastic recycling. This is GARBAGE:

• food & beverage cartons & drink boxes (ice tea, soy milk, soup, juice cartons, milk cartons etc.)
• plastic foam items (foam cups, foam egg cartons, foam trays, foam packing peanuts, foam coolers, etc.) Ulster County law
• plastic bags, sandwich bags, wood pellet bags, animal feed bags, shower curtains, and all plastic “film” NYSDEC Plastic Film law
• containers that held dangerous or corrosive chemicals including oil, antifreeze and pesticides UCRRA HHW/Electronics Service
• lighters (plastic, metal, or any material)
• plastic tubes (toothpaste, tooth brushes, lotion, shampoo and cosmetics, etc.) and disposable razors
• single-serve food and drink squeezable pouches (juice pouches, baby food squeeze pouches, yogurt to go)
• cassette, CD, DVD and VHS tapes
• 3-ring binders (separate the metal rings to recycle in the scrap metal); pens & markers (plastic, metal, or any material)
• umbrellas, garden hoses, luggage (plastic or textile)
• sponges
• sports balls (basket balls, bowling balls, soccer balls, footballs, yoga balls, etc.)
• any GLASS items other than glass bottles & jars (mirrors, light bulbs, ceramics, Pyrex®, window pane, glassware, etc.)
• batteries (take batteries and metal out of toys before recycling) We DO take hazardous batteries: lithium, NiCad, etc.
• electronics (computers, TVs, and related devices – we DO NOT take electronics at this time! UCRRA HHW/Electronics Service
• Strings of holiday lights
• Diapers (ewww)