The City of Buffalo has just released their 2010 schedule for the bulk trash pickups and its dated to start April 11th.  However, we to encourage you to give us a call at the ReSOURCE 716-882-2800 to schedule a pick up for the reuseable materials like cabinets, doors, toilets, sinks and stuff like that.  Get your tax deduction! Check our website for a complete list of items we’ll pickup.  (Can you help us come up with a JINGLE or viral video??)

Council District
South – April 11th
Delaware – April 18th
Lovejoy – April 25th
North – May 2nd
Niagara – May 9th
Ellicott – May 16th
Masten – May 23rd
Fillmore – June 6th
University – June 13th

Over the last year and a half, ReUse has participated in the discussion of diverting organic debris from the landfill. Landfills are really no place for vegetable waste and there are programs across the country which send that material to compost facilities and make much better use of it.  Composting also means JOBS! Buffalonians, you need to start asking for a compost facility; we need to start moving toward a lifestyle which supports the reuse of food waste and decreases the amount of non-degradable food packaging waste.
For our part, ReUse has started composting on a small scale–(we call it ReDOO)–at least as much as our neighbors will allow at this point. If you patronize Amy’s Place or Lexington Co-op you are helping build up our community gardens by contributing to the compost pile. Please tell them thank you from us the next time you go there for a salad or an omelette! Twice a week we receive or pickup the veggie waste, eggshells and coffee grounds and add it to your leaves, lawn clippings and shredded paper. We hope to add more diners and compost heaps on various gardens throughout Buffalo over the summer.
In the meantime, take advantage of the opportunity to educate yourself a little more about the movement toward a more sustainable WNY.
Gary Feinland announces a Free EPA WEBINAR SERIES: Food Waste Reduction and Management.
Food waste is the third largest stream of waste in the U.S. after paper and yard waste. The social, economic, and environmental impacts of food waste are enormous, including increased generation of greenhouse gas, negative impacts on sanitation and health, and the loss of potential improvements in soil health and food production.

To help address these impacts, EPA Region 2 is partnering with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Solid Waste Resource Renewal Group at Rutgers University to offer a series of webinars designed to provide education on the best avenues and methods of food waste management.

Generators of food waste, government representatives, and public stakeholders are encouraged to participate.

February 23, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (EST)
Overview of Food Waste, Climate Change Connection, and Waste Audits

March 10, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (EST)
Separation and Collection of Food Waste

March 17, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (EST)
Waste Reduction through Reuse

March 31, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (EST)
Composting and End-of-Life Management

April 7, 1:00 – 2:30 pm (EST)
Putting the Pieces Together and EPA Tools

For registration and information please visit www.trainex.org/FoodWaste

Gary Feinland
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Solid Waste, Reduction and Recycling
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7253
518-402-8705
www.nyrecycles.org

My alarm woke me up and it was dark outside.  It would be dark, in fact, for many many many more hours; I was waking up at 1am for the Inauguration Day ceremonies to get the best possible spot.  I threw on my long johns, a pair of jeans, a long sleeve under armour, a tank top, sweater, heavy fleece, wool socks, my pea coat, gloves, hat from Peru and a pair of warm boots before I hopped on the subway.  I got to the national mall around 2am…there was already a crowd of people!  For the next 10 hours it was standing room only, shifting from one foot to the next, waiting for the swearing in ceremony of the first African American president EVER to be elected in the US of A.  There was an incredible feeling of comradery in the crowd; people were from all over the world, of different ethnicities and beliefs, yet we were all united in watching this amazing historical moment unfold.  We sang classics like “Stand By Me” and chanted O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma! to pass the time.   I’ll admit it was hellish to stand in the cold–I was shivering, my back and feet hurt, I was hungry–but it was all worth it because of the message I took from Obama’s speech and the inspiring call to action that I’d like to share with you now.  In his speech Obama said:

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

If we are to continue calling America our home and be proud of its place in the world, we must take an active role in making it better.  We cannot simply sit around thinking someone else will come and fix problems for us.  When Obama said this, I immediately recalled seeing something similar in an Andy Warhol exhibit.  On a plaque in the art gallery it read, “They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” Problems with the economy, the disparity of income, the dropout rates of high school students, the crime, corruption, and problems specific to Buffalo, none of them will magically disappear, and to think that they would is foolhardy.  We are the only ones who can change things because we have the power to do so.  If not us, then who?

It was a crazy few days–on my feet constantly, being awake 24+ hours, battling crowds, attending a ball–but I walked away from the inauguration ceremony with a renewed sense of action, an even greater desire to enact change.  I hope you were listening on Tuesday and heard that call for service within our communities, because with a strong team of people who seek to make things better for all, we can tackle some of the challenges we face in Buffalo and accomplish great things!

A few weeks ago we participated in a forum about developing a city-wide compost system.  We spoke about a facility which people could bring organic waste and we talked specifically about reducing food waste in our landfill.  This led to a question I’ve had about the clear bags for lawn waste.  Buffalo residents may not realize that Erie county does not currently have a compost facility to manage the lawn waste you’ve been putting into those clear bags.  It’s true.  I spoke with Mr. Goldstein about our guerilla tactics of snatching your lawn clippings and he said, “Keep doing it.”  They are very close to learning whether or not their grant for developing a compost facility will be awarded.  Unfortunately, in the meantime, your yard waste is going to the landfill with your regular garbage.  You can keep leaves on your lawn as a natural mulch to protect your lawn or you can compost them or you can bring them to OUR compost pile!

Youngstown, Ohio has a lot of parallels to Buffalo.  It is also a former steel town whose once booming and densely populated city spread out and has seen residents move outside of the city.   The image and reputation of Youngstown declined since the 70s due to blight and crime.  There seemed to be no plan for growth or survival for the city.  A lack of industry and job opportunities and subsequent struggles fostered a cycle of defeatism and hopelessness.  When children and teenagers absorb the negative morale about living in Youngstown–or Buffalo–it affects them.  If you grow up hearing your city “sucks” you will inevitably internalize some that as part of your identity.  If you don’t believe me, ask yourself why you ask people, “Where are you from?” or “Where did you grow up?” when you meet people and establish relationships. People make judgements about  you based on their, sometimes limited, knowledge of your hometown.  You see their facial expressions change with recognition or disconnection.  I have corrected half a dozen friends and family, “Nope, the Statue of Liberty is on the other side of NY.”  Most people outside of Buffalo have no understanding of Buffalo, except its bleak reputation which includes–snow, poverty, no jobs, 50% dropout rate.

What is it like to be a mayor of such a town–a town that is vulnerable to criticism and wary of people coming in and making undeliverable promises.  We invited Jay Williams, the first African-American mayor (and the youngest) of Youngstown, OH to come and participate in our Great Lakes Building ReUse Conference and share his controversial ideas about right-sizing and regionalism.  How does a mayor “shrink” a city, yet still provide services and opportunities for growth?  Mayor Williams’ program, Youngstown 2010, is a strategy to create collaboration with policy makers from suburbs, towns, villages and the urban core.  The plan also involves targeted demolition and redevelopment in key neighborhoods.   Part of the program offers grants to relocate residents in sparsely populated neighborhoods, which would allow the city to divert the cost for street lighting and trash pickups elsewhere.  Naturally, some lifelong residents don’t want to leave their houses.  What if their houses could be moved to more populated neighborhoods?  Can some combination of this work in Buffalo?

We invited our own Mayor Brown as well.  If the two mayors don’t already know one another, we hope they will talk and exchange ideas with each other and all the conference participants.
It should be a very interesting workshop.  If you would like to register for the conference, please know there are a variety of options and the final deadline is soon.

If you want the opportunity to transform a vacant lot or house into something FABULOUS or you want to horde property (I won’t judge you). Here is the link to register yourself. You need 2 forms of photo ID. If you would like to buy some property for Buffalo ReUse to transform into something FABULOUS–please call us because, well, we’d love the opportunity. 716-885-4131
I am backlogged on my blog entries, I owe you all an update from the NACA workshop I attended, but in the meantime if you or someone you know is struggling with their mortgage–NACA also has a HOME SAVE PROGRAM to assist you with keeping or saving your home. You have to register and you can call them at 1-888-302-NACA.

Buffalo ReUse and the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) are pleased to invite you to the first Great Lakes Building ReUse Conference to take place November 16 through 18, 2008 in Buffalo, New York.

Registration is now open! To register, visit www.greatlakesreuse.org/register. To receive the early-bird registration price, register by October 9, 2008.

This conference is intended to bring together people eager to initiate or expand programs that encourage building reuse and vacant property stabilization in “rust-belt” cities surrounding the Great Lakes. Bring your energy, enthusiasm, ideas and inspiration!

Great Lakes ReUse Conference:
Regenerating Neighborhoods, Empowering Communities

Buffalo, NY
November 16th – 18th, 2oo8
Hyatt Regency Buffalo

Featured Speakers:

Tyree Guyton, Founder Heidelberg Project and Jenenne Whitfield, Executive Director,
Heidelberg Project, Detroit, MI
Jay Williams, Mayor City of Youngstown, OH
Rick Lowe, Founder Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
Michael Groman, Senior Director Philadelphia Green Program, Philadelphia, PA

Conference Format and Agenda:
Participants are invited to facilitate alternative presentations for design projects, initiatives, and exhibitions that highlight best practices as they relate to building reuse, neighborhood regeneration, and vacant property stabilization. The goal for the conference is that participants become inspired and engaged to direct social change in their home communities. Propose your vision, share your story, communicate your challenges, and highlight opportunities. Possible topics may include:

• Implementing building reuse, deconstruction, and/or rehabilitation efforts as a job training/job creation tool
• Community involvement in neighborhood planning and decision making
• Creative building designs and features incorporating salvaged/reused materials into rehabilitation/new-build projects
• Developing and implementing a building materials reuse store or entrepreneurial venture that encourages ecological sustainability
• Vacant property stabilization, preservation, rehabilitation, and/or weatherization
• Policy and/or planning initiatives to improve the urban environment
• Innovative and cost effective green space development and long term maintenance efforts

For more information or to register:

• Visit our website at www.greatlakesreuse.org
• Email us at 2008conference@greatlakesreuse.org or
• Call us at 716-885-4131

We hope to see you in November!

Regards,
Conference Organizers
Great Lakes Building ReUse Conference
www.greatlakesreuse.org

On behalf of the Partnership for the Public Good, I’d like to invite you to:

Buffalo’s Abandoned Housing Crisis: New Solutions

A Panel Discussion Featuring:
Anthony Armstrong, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Harvey Garrett, West Side Community Collaborative
Kathleen Lynch, Western New York Law Center
Sam Magavern, University at Buffalo Law School

Honorable Henry Nowak, Jr., City of Buffalo Housing Court

Brian Reilly, City of Buffalo Commissioner of Economic Development, Permits, and Inspections

Free and open to the public

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Cornell University ILR School

237 Main St.

Suite 1200

Downtown Buffalo

Seating is limited. To guarantee a space, please register by sending an email by September 12 to Katie Chadwick, klc27 {at} cornell(.)edu .
click here to open & print flier for the event

This week a lot of folks will take a peek at the flag they have hanging on their porch and decide if it’s time to replace their weather beaten version with something new. Have you thought about recycling your old flags? There are rules for properly destroying the flag; however, the new nylon flags shouldn’t be burned; click here for an alternative. What about ones that aren’t in the best shape, but can be repaired–here’s an idea for tattered and faded flags?

We hope to see you this holiday! We’re offering a special discount to anyone that shows up to the store on Friday or Saturday displaying their red, white and blue!

You can download and print out a coupon by clicking on this link, or just mention you saw Old Glory on our blog.

Plus there will be a chili dog buffet, music, baked apple treats and demonstrations!