GLOW Region Solid Waste Management

Press release:

BATAVIA  – The GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee and Genesee County Parks are proud to announce the rehab of the Backyard Composting Demonstration Site at Genesee County Park & Forest, East Bethany.

The site, along with those located at Letchworth State Park (Highbanks Camping Area) and Beaver Meadow Nature Center in North Java, is made up of a variety of homemade and manufactured composters of various shapes and sizes, along with printed information.

Visitors can see for themselves the types of composters available and decide which composter might work best for them.

Backyard composting has been a focus of GLOW’s since its formation in 1987. It has been estimated that up to 30 percent of residential waste is organic material. This includes leaves, brush, tree limbs and kitchen scraps.

Backyard composting can significantly reduce reliance on landfilling and incineration by taking these organics out of the waste stream. Composting speeds up the natural decomposition process. Finished compost (humus) puts nutrients back into the soil and aids in the retention of moisture in soil.

The first version of the site was built in 1994. In 1997 when the Interpretive Center was complete, it was moved to an area behind the center. A complete reconstruction and relocation of the site (to the front of the building) was completed in 2000 and features a kiosk area and walkway made of pavers.

The rehabbed site features new signage, a "take one" box containing GLOW’s four-panel composting brochure, and a rearrangement of the composters.

“The opportunity for the park visitors to see and touch the various types of composters fits right into our goal of experiential learning and environmental education at the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Center," said Paul Osborn, deputy highway superintendent. "Composting puts nutrients back into the soils and provides beneficial food for plants and insects.

"We are excited to have been a part of providing a new makeover to the compost site and the continued partnership with GLOW Solid Waste!”

Information about composting can also be obtained by contacting the GLOW office at 800/836-1154, 344-2580, ext. 5463, or emailing glow@co.genesee.ny.us

Press release:

At last month's meeting of the GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee, Peggy Grayson, recycling administrator, presented the Final Report for the 2016 Household Hazardous/Pharmaceutical Waste Collection.

The annual collection was held Sept. 17 at the Genesee County Highway Department in Batavia. More than 600 residents made appointments and 527 attended.

At the collection GLOW accepted, as it has in the past, a wide range of household chemicals, oil base paint (10,909 lbs.), pesticides and insecticides (5,433 lbs.), aerosol cans (1,799 lbs.), resins and adhesives (1,823 lbs.), fluorescent bulbs and tubes (934 lbs.), electronics (32,258lbs.) propane tanks and canisters, vehicle batteries, pharmaceuticals (360 lbs. with packaging) and other materials.

Once again GLOW used its system of appointments and scheduled up to 30 residents for each 15-minute interval. As a result few people waited more than 15 minutes and many were able to drive right in, be unloaded and out without waiting at all. On exit surveys residents overwhelmingly gave the program a top rating of 5. Most residents want to see the program held annually, if not more frequently.

The total cost of the program was $35,377. Of that amount $29,905 was for disposal of materials and $5,472 was for advertising, supplies, printing, postage and miscellaneous. Materials were accepted no charge except for tires. Funding is provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) grant and GLOW’s County contributions. Ed Arnold Recycling accepted propane tanks and canisters and vehicle batteries at no charge and Covanta Energy incinerated, as required by law, medications at no charge.

GLOW is in the planning stages for a mid-September 2017 collection in Livingston County. Residents wishing to be notified by post card when appointments are being accepted can contact the GLOW office.

For additional information or a copy of the final report residents may call the GLOW office at 585/815-7906 or 800/836-1154, or email glow@co.genesee.ny.us