Recycling Research Partnerships

Recycling Research Partnerships 

DEC has partnered with four NYS State Universities and has invested over $25 million to assist in researching and strengthening secondary materials recycling initiatives and markets.  

New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University Center for Glass Innovation

The Center for Glass Innovation is working to address issues around glass recycling and reuse. 

Goals Include:

• Understanding material flows & economic drivers for glass recycling in NYS.
• Improving cullet quality via sorting and separation techniques.
• Looking at ways to increase and promote the use of recycled glass in new and innovative sinks.
• Recommending policy changes to facilitate recycling of glass.
• Using recycled glass to build and test concrete seawalls on Long Island to help prevent future flooding intensified by sea-level rise.
• Looking at the feasibility for wine bottle washing facilities in the Finger Lakes and Long Island. 

University at Buffalo's NYS Center for Plastics Recycling Research and Innovation 

The NYS Center for Plastic Recycling Research and Innovation is working to address many of the important issues related to plastics recycling, with the goal of advancing plastics recycling in NY state and beyond. 

Goals Include:

• Mapping the collection and disposal of plastics in NYS.
• Improving efficiency of the collection and processing of plastics.
• Researching plastics in New York’s natural environments, including water, and wastewater, and in the agriculture, food and medical industries.
• Understand attitudes toward recycling and recycling behavior to encourage recycling.   
• Advancing technology for high-speed plastic sorting  and chemical plastics recycling. 

SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) 

CSMM is currently working on ways to collectively change the way materials are managed in NYS. 

Goals Include: 

• Promoting waste prevention & reduction, particularly through packaging reduction & product stewardship.
• Using New York State’s purchasing power to encourage closed-loop, responsible purchasing.
• Conducting a needs assessment and gap analysis of the state’s collection, transportation, and recycling system, and making recommendations for system improvements to reach the state’s waste reduction and recycling goals.  
• Developing economic markets for recyclables, fostering entrepreneurship and helping to convert manufacturing to use more recycled feedstock.
• Outreach, public education and stakeholder engagement initiatives, including the Recycle Right Campaign.
• Identifying new methods to manage non-recyclable paper materials. 

Stony Brook Waste Data and Analysis Center (WDAC)

The Center is advancing sustainable waste management practices in NYS by analyzing solid waste and recyclable waste streams at the local, state, national, and international levels. This work will help to identify trends, develop waste solutions and inform policy. 

 Goals Include:

• Performing a multi-year, statewide, waste characterization study.
• Case studies and research on single stream recycling.
• Performing a technology assessment of Material Recovery Facilities in the US and around the world.