SARATOGA RECYCLES
Hundreds bring items to collection day
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Sue Elliott cleaned out her garage for a good cause on Saturday.
The Greenfield Center resident brought three old bikes, a copier, fax scanner, backpack and shoes to the first-ever Saratoga Recycles Day, organized by the non-profit Sustainable Saratoga.
Hundreds of cars pulled into the parking lot throughout the day at Saratoga Springs High School where the event was held.
“I still have a refrigerator-freezer I couldn’t bring,” Elliott said, smiling. “We’ll see if somebody gets it on Craig’s List.”
Waterford-based JGS Recycling and Hauling collected scrap metal and all kinds of electronics.
“Everything gets torn apart,” said Rich Allen, the firm’s manager. “With air conditioners we extract the freon and separate the metals like copper and aluminum. It all gets shipped to different companies that reuse it. We do quite a few events like this each year.”
The inaugural Saratoga Recycles Day was modeled after an existing, well-established collection day in Bethlehem.
“We’ve had an amazing response from the community,” said Harry Moran, Sustainable Saratoga board chair. “They’re grateful because it’s filling a need. In an opportunity to bring a variety of things to one place, on one day.”
Plans call for holding the event annually.
“It’s so well organized,” said Malta resident Fred Songayllo. “I was anticipating having to wait in long lines. I got rid of all kinds of things that accumulate.”
American Clothing Recycling Company, of Glens Falls, filled a large truck of items people dropped off. Usable clothing is cleaned and sent to agencies throughout the U.S. and overseas to help people in need. Other material is shredded.
“It’s going to be reprocessed and used for things like dog bed filling and car seat stuffing,” said Audrey Belt, a Sustainable Saratoga member.
Volunteer Todd Downing accepted bicycles that will go to the group Bikeatoga, which fixes up and distributes used bikes to promote cycling. Some are given to Saratoga Race Course backstretch workers, to help them get around town while living in the Spa City.
“We want to get them out of people’s garages, keep them out of landfills and give them to people who can actually use them,” Downing said.
The Albany-based store, Up-Stitch, collects fabric, yarn and notions such as needles, thread, buttons and scissors.
“If a person who liked quilting passes away, they might leave behind a large supply of items,” said Megan Stasi, store co-owner. “We can get them to a
person who’s just getting started for a lot less than going to Joann’s (Fabric Shop) or Hobby Lobby.”
The only fees collected Saturday were for electronics and appliances. Everything else could be disposed of free.
Any money raised will be shared by Sustainable Saratoga, for programming, and the Saratoga Springs High School environmental class, whose members helped out with the event along with National Honor Society students.
Mother Nature cooperated by providing a beautiful autumn day.
“I feel like we got a blessing,” said Margie Shepard, co-chair of Sustainable Saratoga’s Zero Waste Committee. “I can’t imagine if we had had cold, wind and rain.”
Two members of a Skidmore College “Political Ecology” class interviewed residents for a video project, to raise awareness about recycling. Sustainable Saratoga can use it next year to promote Recycles Day on social media.
“It’s really nice seeing a community event like this,” said Julie Douglas of Seattle. “It demonstrates a lot of the sustainable values within the Saratoga community.”