SARATOGA SPRINGS — More than 630 vehicles wound their way through the drop-off stations to recycle or donate unwanted items at Sustainable Saratoga’s fourth annual Saratoga Recycles Day.
“While we expected that the extra time spent at home this year due to COVID-19 would drive up attendance, we were still surprised by the record-breaking turnout,” said Margie Shepard, Co-Chair of Sustainable Saratoga’s Zero
Waste Committee.
The electronics and clothing/textile drop-off locations were in especially high demand. Planit Waste, Recycling & Salvage and eLot Electronics Recycling collected huge quantities of batteries, electronics and scrap metal. Hundreds of TVs and monitors were dropped off, contributing to the thousands of pounds of electronics that will be responsibly recycled and kept out of landfills. Early estimates indicate a record amount of textiles and clothing were donated at this year’s event, which took place Oct. 24 at the overflow parking lot at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.
One important strategy for keeping things out of landfills is to extend their useful life. Every year, the list of partnering community groups who collect items increases. This year, participants included American Clothing, Shelters of Saratoga, B.E.S.T., Bikeatoga, Transitional Services Association, Saratoga Lions Club and Wellspring.
Shelters of Saratoga collected 106 sleeping bags, 43 tents and 61 backpacks that will be used to help many people this coming winter. Around 60 large bags of men’s shoes, jackets and clothing were donated to B.E.S.T. to benefit the backstretch workers at the Saratoga Racetrack. Sustainable Saratoga collected over 100 bikes, and Bikeatoga took more than half of them to add to their winter project load. American Clothing collected several truckloads of donated clothing and textiles. Three large carloads of donated art supplies will be put to good use by the artists at Transitional Services Association. The Saratoga Lions Club collected buckets full of eyeglasses, and Wellspring received 342 cell phones. All of these items will be reused, helping both individuals in need and the environment.
