Collection Schedule and Upcoming Recycling Event Information (just type in your address)

RESOURCES

34 and More is Buffalo’s public initiative to increase the city’s recycling diversion rate—currently 28.36 percent—and exceed the national average of 34%. Recycling has never been easier, and benefits everyone. Use these guides to determine what goes in the green tote, what goes in the blue tote and what to drop off, as well as the city’s laws for refuse and recycling collection. See how easy it is to reach 34 and more!

Click here to view our 2017 recycling report.

Do you want to see how your neighborhood is doing with its curbside recycling?  Check out this link that was created for the City of Buffalo by Zerocycle Inc.  The City uses this information to target specific neighborhoods that need extra help to boost their recycling! http://reports.zerocycle.co/buffalo/index.html

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CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH THE CITY OF BUFFALO!  THERE ARE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ALL MONTH LONG!

 

Click here for a linkable Earth Day calendar: COB-EarthMonth-Poster-2018-rev

 

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2018 Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale

The City of Buffalo is teaming up with Erie County and the WNY Stormwater Coalition to sell rain barrels, compost bins and accessories at a discounted price.  Residents can sign up by clicking here:

http://www.eriecompostersale.ecwid.com

City of Buffalo residents may also be eligible for a FREE Rainbarrel through the Buffalo Sewer Authority.  Please contact to check availability: 716-851-4664

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Dare to Repair Cafe

Mayor Byron W. Brown and The Dare to Repair Cafe are partnering on a community event where individuals can bring broken items (lamps, vacuums, toys, etc.) to the repair cafe and have expert volunteer “fixers” try to repair the item alongside them for free. While there is no guarantee that an item can be fixed,participants are sure to learn something new and have fun along the way. It’s not just about fixing things, it’s about reducing waste and building community!

Please visit  www.thetoollibrary.org/daretorepair
Click here to download a flier with details on the upcoming events!

       

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Recycle: Let's DO This!

Everyone wins when we recycle! The City of Buffalo is pleased to announce the second annual  "Recycling: Let's DO This!" for 2018!

Let's DO this! is a friendly and fun recycling competition for Buffalo neighborhood Block Clubs. We are asking every Block Club in Buffalo to sign up and participate and we are asking every residents to help by filling their recycling tote every week. Block Clubs must register for Let's DO This! by June 11th.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.CITY-BUFFALO.COM TO REGISTER AND LEARN MORE.

You can also click here to download our Let's DO This! brochure: LetsDoThis-Brochure   Click here to download an application form: Application Form

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Materials for Educators

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City of Buffalo Recycling department has organized a list of resources for educators and even parents to teach and inform about recycling. We have included materials according to grade level and recycling topic.  Click here to learn more.

City of Buffalo Recycling staff is also available to give recycling presentations and tours of facilities to groups based on ability and request.

 

 

Environmental Champions Program

Mayor Byron W. Brown and Superintendent Kriner Cash have announced their commitment to enhance recycling across the Buffalo Public Schools.  The Environmental Champions Program (ECP) is an educational initiative for students, teachers, and school administrators to practice the 3R’s of waste management.

The ECP will incentivize school communities to strengthen recycling capacity.  Eligible schools will receive an award of $500 for stewardship items such as garden supplies, compost unit, or classroom recycling bins.  All K – 12 Buffalo Public Schools are eligible to apply.

To sign-up and participate, please email the Recycling Coordinator: Sashti Balasundaram (sbalasundaram@city-buffalo.com) and inform him of your school’s involvement by Friday, March 23rd, 2018. This email should include details of your School Name, School Address, and a School Contact (name and email address) overseeing this initiative.

Deadline for submission with the Environmental Champions Program is Friday, May 11th, 2018.

Click here for a copy of the application: EnvironmentalChampionsProgram-Booklet

Click here for a copy of the schedule: Final Pony ECP SCHEDULE to Administrators

 

Recyclable
material list

More Info

Clothing & textile recycling

More Info

Laws for refuse & recycling collection

More Info


Food Waste

More Info

FAQs

The wet strength of paper is a measure of how well the web of fibers holding the paper together can resist a force of rupture when the paper is wet. To increase wet-strength, additives are added to the paper to make it stronger.  These additives often make the paper product not recyclable.

Engineering Garage handout

City of Buffalo currently has a diversion rate of 26%.  The Diversion Rate, based on weight,  includes all materials that are pulled out of the waste stream and recycled for which there is data available.  The curbside recycling rate is 14%.  Mayor Byron Brown’s 2015 Annual Recycling Report is available here:

BROWN ANNUAL REPORT 2016

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation requires that the City submit an Annual Recycling Report as well.  That is available here:

2015 Annual Recycling Report

More household waste is produced between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than any other time of the year–about 6 million tons of added waste  nationwide.  Enjoy the holidays and recycle when you can!

Mayor Brown Holiday Recycling tips - 2016

 

Yes. The City of Buffalo has a mandatory recycling ordinance.

Multiple-dwelling buildings are required to provide recycling to their tenants.

Recycling helps the environment by conserving natural resources. Recycling helps stabilize the User Fee because recycling is less costly than garbage disposal. The more we recycle, the more we save.

No. Recyclables are not thrown out. They are valuable resources that are sold to make new products.

Recycling and garbage are picked up on the same day every week by different trucks—Republic Services, the City’s recycling contractor, picks up recycling; the City Sanitation Department picks up garbage. Please call 311 to determine your collection day, or visit the Collection Schedules tab at the top of this website.

If you miss your weekly recycling pickup, or if the truck misses your stop, please leave your green tote out and call 311. A truck will return.

Single-stream recycling is when all recyclables are collected in the same container. There was a time when paper had to be kept separate from the rest of the recyclables; that is no longer necessary.

Western New York Coalition for Donated Goods was formed to make it easier for residents to locate donation opportunities for used clothing and furniture. For a list of locations, please visit www.city-buffalo.com/reuse.

Yard waste—trees, shrubs, grass clippings—that is left at the curb during the leaf pickup period in the fall are composted. If residents want to ensure that yard waste is composted other times of the year, they can drop off yard waste at the Engineering Garage, 1120 Seneca St., Buffalo, 14210.

All yard waste collected during leaf collection in the fall, as well as Christmas tree pickup after the holidays, is composted.

Compost and wood chips are available to residents at Engineering Garage, 1120 Seneca St., Buffalo, 14210.

Both Styrofoam and plastic bags present operational problems for the Material Recycling Facility, where recyclables are processed. Clean, white Styrofoam can be brought to Thermal Foams for recycling (call first for an appointment). New York State law requires that stores provide drop-off bins for plastic bags. Bring your plastic bags to the grocery store for easy disposal.

The City has many commodities that handle recycling and garbage:
Garbage—East Side Transfer Station
Recycling (collected curbside)—Republic Services Material Recycling Facility
Electronic waste—Electronic Recyclers International
Yard waste—Lardon Construction Compost Facility
Tires—Waste Management of WNY
Scrap metal—various metal recyclers in Buffalo

The City of Buffalo sponsors occasional special collection events throughout the year. Residents should call 311 for more information.

An “Oops Tag” will be placed on your green tote if it contained material that is not recyclable. Residents should remove the contaminant and put it in the blue tote.

Yes. All recyclable plastic that touched food should be rinsed with water.

The City of Buffalo curbside collection program accepts all plastic bottles and food containers labeled with recycling codes 1 through 7.

We recommend you first try to donate or resell unwanted furniture or household items, whenever possible. However, the City hosts bulk trash pickup days in each of the council districts. Residents should call 311 for dates.

Request a Tote

Every city address, including apartments, should have its own green recycling tote. If you do not have a green recycling tote, or need a new one, please call 311 or fill out this form and the City will contact you for arrangements.

Business Pledges

The City of Buffalo needs everyone's help to increase the city's recycling rate. That includes businesses as well as residents. The following businesses have already pledged to recycle, encouraging both colleagues and customers to do their part and recycle more. The city thanks them for their support. If you own or manage a business in the City of Buffalo, join this list and pledge today!