Not every edict that comes from legislators in Albany works out for the best.
There are at least a few that have contributed to a regulatory mess for New Yorkers. These have hampered the efforts of residents to be productive and thwarted businesses from boosting the economy.
Some laws, however, have improved conditions by helping people change the way they think and behave.
One example of this is the set of state recycling laws passed 25 years ago last week. Officials estimate that these regulations have diverted more than 320 million tons of recyclable goods from landfills.
The state requires people to separate material that can be recycled from the waste stream. There is no doubt that this imposed burdens on people. What could be easier than simply throwing something in the garbage can?
Doing this without regard for how it affects our disposal resources has resulted in serious consequences. Imagine how many items wound up in landfills over the years that could otherwise have been placed back into productive use.
It’s true that many individuals have been strong recycling advocates for decades. They are the ones who put pressure on lawmakers to examine how to revise state laws to nudge people in the right direction.
This is important because some of us didn’t embrace these environmentally friendly practices at the start. It’s taken years to recognize the benefits of recycling and conserving resources.
One of the ways that recycling has rewarded the north country is that it saves money. Some communities such as Watertown pick up recyclable goods for free.
Other governments charge to get rid of recyclable items. But these fees are normally lower than those for disposing of garbage. Reducing the amount of trash destined for landfills puts money back into municipal budgets.
In addition, reusing certain items preserves disposal resources. The Development Authority of the North Country, for example, has extended the life of the landfill it operates in Rodman through recycling.
According to information from the state Department of Conservation, initiatives that the state has implemented to further reduce waste include the following:
- Organics management program with organics recycling facilities to reduce and divert food waste from the waste stream and reduce emissions.
- State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act of 2010, a comprehensive electronic waste (e-waste) law that requires manufacturers who sell or offer for sale covered electronic equipment such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions, small scale servers, and small electronic equipment, to establish a convenient acceptance program for the collection, handling, and recycling or reuse of e-waste free of charge to most consumers. Since its implementation, more than 520 million pounds of electronic waste from consumers has been recycled or reused instead of being sent to landfills, waste combustion facilities, or other improper disposal methods.
- State Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act requires manufacturers of covered rechargeable batteries to collect and recycle the batteries in a manufacturer-funded program at no cost to consumers. Consumers across the state have safely returned more than 1 million rechargeable batteries from 2013 to 2016.
To read the full story, visit http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/opinion/laws-of-conservation-states-recycling-mandates-have-helped-reduce-waste-stream-20170907.