America Recycles Day: Protecting What Matters Most

Did you know November 15 is America Recycles Day? Each November, we’re given the chance to step back and reflect on our relationship with the planet. It’s a time to consider both our personal impact on the environment and our collective impact as a global community.

To celebrate, we want to give a shout-out to our friends at The Arc Otsego ReUse Center for the important work they do in removing would-be trash from the waste stream. 

Earlier this summer, proceeds from our NYCM employee rummage sale were donated to support the ReUse Center’s efforts: a testament to our commitment to reducing waste and strengthening the communities where we live and work.

The ReUse Center collects hard furniture, wood, leftover building materials, and various household items, then offers them back to the community at affordable prices. They also accept and recycle polystyrene, expanding local recycling options in the Oneonta area. 

Why Is It Important to Reuse and Upcycle?

According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States generated over 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018. Of that amount:

• Approximately 69 million tons were recycled

• Around 25 million tons were composted

• More than 146 million tons ended up in landfills

While newer national totals are still being compiled, these figures highlight both the ongoing challenge and opportunity to reduce, reuse, and recycle. When we throw something “away,” it doesn’t just disappear, it stays here on Earth, often for generations.

That’s where reusing and upcycling come in! We’ve all heard the phrase “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” In a world overflowing with stuff, you don’t have to look far to find your next project or a way to give new life to an item that still has value.

“Our mission at NYCM Insurance has always been to protect what matters most to you,” said NYCM COO and Executive Vice President Jeremy Robinson. “On America Recycles Day, we’re all thinking about what steps we can take to protect our planet and promote a sustainable future for our children. We’re proud of our green initiatives at NYCM, including paperless billing and paid volunteer time, which allow employees to give back to the Earth and their communities. We’re further inspired by the work our partners at The Arc Otsego ReUse Center are doing. As we continue to explore different ways to take care of our planet, we’re grateful to have organizations like The Arc Otsego ReUse Center by our side.”

What Is The Arc Otsego ReUse Center?

The ReUse Center was opened in 2017 in Oneonta by The Arc Otsego, with a mission to collect usable items destined for the landfill and offer them back to the community at an affordable cost. Since its inception, the Center has kept over 3 million pounds of reusable items out of landfills and has recycled more than 20,000 pounds of polystyrene.

“The Otsego ReUse Center is a project of The Arc Otsego,” said Faith Tiemann, Chief Marketing Officer of The Arc Otsego. “In addition to all we do to reduce our environmental impact, we also employ individuals with disabilities, and all proceeds from the ReUse Center help meet our mission of providing supports, services, and advocacy to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in living rich, fulfilling lives.”

The ReUse Center accepts a variety of used items: solid wood furniture, doors and hardware, cabinet sets, tools, glass, lighting, flooring, plumbing fixtures, metal roofing, and more. (They do not accept upholstered furniture, combustibles, appliances, or electronics.)

By collecting items that still have life left in them and offering them back to the community, the ReUse Center is taking tangible steps to reduce landfill waste while offering affordable resources to local residents.

How Can You ReUse?

Reuse is about making small, sustainable choices every day:

• Shop secondhand at thrift stores, garage sales, or reuse centers.

• Before throwing something away, ask whether it can be repaired, donated, or repurposed.

• Remember: once an item enters the trash, it likely ends up in a landfill for good.

While America Recycles Day gives us a formal reminder to consider our relationship with the planet, the mindset of reducing, reusing, and recycling is something we can carry with us all year long.