UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority is celebrating the 26th annual America Recycles Day on Wednesday, November 15.

The celebration, established by the national non-profit Keep America Beautiful, is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to the promotion and celebration of recycling. The Authority is celebrating by recognizing Oneida and Herkimer County’s recycling achievements.

Last year, the Authority processed over 40,000 tons of recyclables. Through their partnership with PaintCare, the Authority was also able to recycle just over 28,000 gallons of paint. Just over 10,500 tons of green waste was composted at the Authority’s compost site, and through the Authority’s Food2Energy program, just under 4,600 tons of food waste were kept out of landfills. They also recycled 356 tons of electronics.

In 2022, Oneida and Herkimer Counties had a recycling rate of 52%, far above the national rate of 32%.

To increase the rate that the counties recycle, the Authority provided some tips on how to recycle even more:

  • All bottles, cups and containers can be recycled, regardless of what number (1-7) they are. The only exceptions are Styrofoam cups, motor oil bottles and orange prescription medication bottles, which are all garbage items.
  • Plastic film should be recycled at local retailers and should not be placed in your recycling bin. Items like plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap and or wood pellet bags can jam up the machinery at the recycling center.
  • Break down or fold up large cardboard boxes so you can fit more recyclables in your bin.
  • Place any shredded paper in a clear plastic bag before putting it in your recycling bin. Bagging your shredded paper helps ensure that it doesn’t get blown away while it’s being brought to the recycling center.

For any questions on recycling or specific disposal instructions, the Authority encourages you to visit www.amirecyclable.com or www.ohswa.org. The Authority can also be contacted at 315-733-1224, ohswa@ohswa.org, or through the Authority’s Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.