Recycling Guide

User Fees are in effect - Recyclables are free...The more you recycle, The more you save!

The Cattaraugus County waste reduction, reuse and recycling program is partially financed with a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Recycling Basics and Benefits _{(United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2023)}

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment. Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused.

Benefits of Recycling:

Environment - Recycling provides many benefits to our environment. By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.

Conserves natural resources - Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.
Climate change - According to the most recent EPA data, the recycling and composting of municipal solid waste (MSW or trash) saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018.
Energy savings - Recycling conserves energy. For example, recycling just ten plastic bottles save enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours. To estimate how much energy you can save by recycling certain products, the EPA developed the Individual Waste Reduction Model (iWARM).
Waste and pollution reduction - Recycling diverts waste away from landfills and incinerators, which reduces the harmful effects of pollution and emissions.

EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency (October 27, 2023). Recycling Basics and Benefits. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits

To learn more about recycling and it's benefits, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's website at https://www.epa.gov/.

Transfer Station Regulations: **Please follow these guidelines in preparing your materials for recycling at the Cattaraugus County Transfer Stations.**
Material	Preparation	These Items are NOT Recyclable/Accepted
Clear Glass Bottles and Jars	Empty and rinse clean Food Grade Glass Only	No colored glass, window glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, candles, vases, ceramics, Pyrex, light bulbs, coffee mugs, etc.
Tin and Aluminum	Rinsed clean and empty	No aluminum foil
Plastic - Plastic Recycling	Empty and rinse clean Only numbered 1-2 PET and HDPE recyclable plastic.	No plastic bags, toys, plant containers, plastic hangers, buckets, No. 3-7 plastic, or containers that contained automotive fluid.
Paper - Newspaper, Magazines, Junk Mail, Office and School Paper	Clean and dry only Remove covers from hardcover books Telephone books and envelopes are acceptable. Do not use plastics bags (unless used for shredded paper) or bundle with wire.	No carbon paper, blueprints, shiny paper, metallic paper, or cardboard.
Cardboard and Boxboard/Paperboard	Clean and dry only Breakdown and flatten corrugated boxes	No waxed, plastic coated, Styrofoam, or metal packaging. No waterproof, paperboard, stained or contaminated materials.
Scrap Metal, White Goods	Aluminum, brass, copper, steel, cast iron, machinery, wire, pipe Home appliances (Fee for items containing Freon)	No items made mostly of non-metal.
Batteries	Car, Boat and Motorcycle - only batteries that are not leaking or damaged.	Non-rechargeable batteries can be thrown away with your garbage. Rechargeable batteries (Lithium Ion, Nickle-Cadmium, Nickel-Metal Hydride, and sealed lead) are not accepted and should be recycled. To locate the nearest participating drop-off location, go online to https://www.call2recycle.org/ or by calling 1-877-2-RECYCLE or 1-800-8-BATTERY. Or they can be returned to any retailer that sells covered rechargeable batteries or rechargeable battery containing products for recycling.
Vehicle Tires	Car tires and light truck tires may be disposed of at any transfer station for a fee, except the Allegany transfer station, during regular operating hours. View the tire fee schedule here.
Yard Waste	Grass clippings, leaves, and cuttings from shrubs, hedges and trees that are less than four (4) inches in diameter and four (4) feet in length. Yard waste can be in biodegradable bags. Small quantities of yard waste can be accepted at specified transfer stations including Allegany, Dayton, Portville, and Salamanca. Quantities up to one (1) cubic yard or five (5) 30-gallon bags can be accepted.	No wood waste, rocks, garbage, treated or painted wood, black top, pallets, concrete, railroad ties, demolition debris, or plastic bags.
Computers, TV's Printers and Other Electronics.	Electronic recycling is for Cattaraugus County residents only. Proof of residency will be requested. Limit one CRT or LCD per day.
Construction & Demolition Debris	Lumber, shingles, vinyl siding, drywall, plumbing, brick, insulation, fixtures. Reduce material to 4' in length	No asbestos, contaminated sand, asphalt, millings, or contaminated material.

What can I do with other types of waste?

Electronic Waste

Effective January 1st, 2023, there is no longer a fee for CRT and LCD disposal. You can visit the User Fee Tickets page to review the fee schedule. NYS Environmental Conservation Law of New York, Article 27, TITLE 26 includes cathode ray tubes (CRT), computers, computer peripherals, small electronic equipment, and small scale servers or televisions (CRT or LCD) as covered equipment.

Small electronic equipment includes:

Digital music players
DVD/VCR players
Satellite receivers
Digital converter boxes
Video game consoles

Small electronic equipment DOES NOT include:

Cameras
Radios
Appliances
Microwaves
Auto parts
Any type of telephone
Calculators
Typewriters
Cash registers
Large cabinetry containing CRT or LCD for industrial use
GPS devices
Thermostats
Peripherals such as fax machines or copiers weighing more than 100 pounds

Electronics recycling is for Cattaraugus County residents only - proof of residency will be requested.

Limit one CRT or LCD per day.

Household Hazardous Waste

NYS DEC defines household hazardous waste as waste from a household which, but for its point of origin, would be hazardous waste under Part 371 6 NYCRR and includes all pesticides.

Examples include oil based paints, pool supplies, automotive fluids, home hobby chemicals, solvents, pesticides, aerosols, and compact fluorescent bulbs.

Transfer stations do not accept any form of household hazardous waste. Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works sponsors an annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event. This event is posted on the County webpage, advertised on the radio and in newspapers, and posted through flyers and announcements. You can also call (716) 938-9121 to learn about the next scheduled event OR you can contact Hazman Hazardous Waste Management in Tonawanda, NY at (716) 998-8073 or on the web at https://www.hazmanusa.com/ to discuss options for removing your hazardous waste.

Electronic Vaping Devices and Cartridges

These SHOULD NOT be disposed of with regular waste. E-liquid is considered hazardous waste because it contains liquid nicotine, which is a harsh chemical. Do not pour e-liquid down the drain. Rechargeable batteries store a large amount of energy in a small amount of space and have the possibility of overheating, catching fire, or exploding. These devices should be returned to the retailer where it was purchased, to a household hazardous waste collection site, or to a medication collection site. Click here to find a location near you.

Plastic bags, film, wrap

Plastic bags are accepted at most retail locations for recycling at a collection box near the front of the store. Click here to locate participating drop-off locations for plastic bags, film, and wrap.

Mercury Thermostats

https://thermostat-recycle.org/ has a quick and easy search tool that will identify drop-off locations near you. There are quite a few locations within Cattaraugus County that will accept mercury thermostats - check it out!

Latex Paint

We recommend disposing of paint for free at a paint retail store participating in the PaintCare Paint Stewardship Program Plan. The program allows customers to drop off unused paint free of charge. To learn more about the program or to find your nearest paint collection site, visit https://www.paintcare.org.

Latex paint can also be dried up with kitty litter and disposed of with your regular garbage.

Yard Waste Disposal

Cattaraugus County Local Law 10-2019 SECTION 2.ZZ defines yard waste as: grass clippings, leaves, and cuttings from shrubs, hedges and trees that are less than four (4) inches in diameter and four (4) feet in length.

NYS DEC and Cattaraugus County encourage residents to compost and mulch yard waste in place for repurposing at the site of generation. Mulching reduces green yard waste by 60%. Composting conserves water, reduces reliance on fertilizers and helps you grow healthier plants. With little expense and effort, you can compost most food waste, yard waste, and paper waste. Small quantities of yard waste are accepted at some transfer stations in Cattaraugus County. Ask attendant for a composting brochure.

Schedules and brochures:

Schedules and brochures can be obtained from outlets, municipal locations and transfer stations. Tickets can be purchased at these locations throughout Cattaraugus County.

Disposal of properly prepared recyclables is free to individual users of the transfer stations.

Any Questions?

Call the Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works at:
(716) 938-9121
Cattaraugus County Hazardous Waste Hotline at:
1-800-248-7719, Ext. 2486

Transfer Station Regulations: Please follow these guidelines in preparing your materials for recycling at the Cattaraugus County Transfer Stations.