Buffalo, NY – Mayor Byron W. Brown is calling on City residents to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by taking part in a week-long series of virtual activities, scheduled for the week of April 20-24, 2020. Earth Day is April 22, 2020.
“Earth Day 2020 will be unlike any other in history,” said Mayor Brown. “The health and safety of participants and staff is our top concern and amid this COVID-19 outbreak, we developed an educational and responsible way for City of Buffalo residents and families to take part in Earth Day activities right in the safety of their own homes.”
Throughout the week of April 20-24, Mayor Brown and the Recycling Reinvented Committee will issue a different challenge each day. Below is the schedule. Participants will receive a free City of Buffalo reusable bag.
MONDAY, APRIL 20
Show your Love on Earth Day!
Sketch out some Love your Earth messages! Tag us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter@recyclebuffalo and we’ll share your creations! *Sidewalk art is encouraged*
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
Hey Kids! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle your household items into a craft!
Tag us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @recyclebuffalo and we’ll share your crafts!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 – EARTH DAY 50TH ANNIVERSARY!
Show us how you are caring for our planet! Ideas: pick up litter around your house, rake your yard or create less waste! Tag us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter@recyclebuffalo
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
Dare to Repair? Do you want to learn how to fix a lamp? Our Dare to Repair partners created a video that will show you how. We will post the video on FB at 10 am on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Show us your finished project. Tag us on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter@recyclebuffalo
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Are you missing your Green Team at school or at work? Show us how you’re recycling at home! Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook/Instagram @recyclebuffalo
Director of Refuse and Recycling Susan Attridge stated, “We really expect a lot of participation in this year’s virtual Earth Week Challenges. The best part about all of these activities is that so many of the tasks were designed to be things that our residents can do in the safety of their own homes. Even with the restrictions currently in place due to COVID-19, this is something that we feel most households, particularly our youth, can participate in and share with their teachers.”
Under the direction of Mayor Brown, the City of Buffalo continues its strong commitment to increase its recycling and recovery programs. In 2012, the City of Buffalo switched to single stream curbside recycling for all residential structures as well as commercial entities in the designated commercial districts, followed by the launch of the 34andMore Buffalo Recycles program, with a recycling goal of 34%, the national recycling average. Since then, overall recycling rates increased from 15.9% in 2012 to 29.30% to date. This steady progress has been aided by several new recycling initiatives: 34andMore Recycling Campaign Blitz, Let’s DO This! Neighborhood Recycling Competition, Community Dare to Repair Café program, the Environmental Champions Program, in partnership with Buffalo Public Schools, and now the Recycling Reinvented campaign, a continuing six-month public awareness to educate residents on what should not go in the green recycling tote: plastics, yard waste, food waste and clothing.
Mayor Brown continues to encourage all city residents, visitors and business owners to recycle. By building on the positive momentum, he hopes to achieve his recycling goal of 34%–the national recycling average. For more information about Buffalo’s Recycling program, please visit www.buffalony.gov.
