CLCPA-Comments-2022-0701-Finger-Lakes-ReUse

Sep 22, 2026

Comments on the draft scoping plan outlining how Finger Lakes ReUse (FLR), an environmental NGO, advances reuse to strengthen community, economy, and environment. The submission differentiates reuse from recycling and thrift-store functions, detailing FLR’s charitable and educational purposes, services, and impact. It highlights living-wage job creation for people facing employment barriers, waste diversion and materials redirection through Community ReUse Centers, and environmental benefits from avoided extraction, production, and transport. It also recommends state investment in community-level reuse and notes statewide momentum, grants, and outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Comments on the draft scoping plan

Finger Lakes ReUse mission and purposes

Reuse vs. recycling and key environmental benefits

Community and economic impacts

Statewide reuse momentum and recommendations

Comments on the waste sector

Chapter 16 (pp. 233-252) accounting gaps

COMMUNITY ∙ ECONOMY ∙ ENVIRONMENT Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft scoping plan. Incorporated 15 years ago, Finger Lakes ReUse (FLR) is an environmental NGO with the mission: to enhance community, economy, and environment through reuse. Our Articles of Incorporation 1 authorized by NYS in October 2007 include the following purpose: To provide consultation services on reuse to communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, and other entities requesting assistance. Reuse is distinctly different and far more environmentally preferable to recycling, is much more than a thrift store, and more than keeping items out of landfills and incinerators. Reuse not only reduces unnecessary waste, reuse also creates local economic and professional development opportunity, while helping avoid global extraction, production, and transport-all energy-intensive, mainly fossil fuel-driven processes with often unfair labor practices taking advantage of vulnerable populations in developing countries. FLR enhances the community by creating a growing number of living wage job opportunities for people who have experienced barriers to employment, we enhance the economy by diverting waste that Tompkins County residents, businesses andinstitutions pay to throw away, but instead we redirect these materials through our Community ReUse Centers and sell them at $2,000-$3,000 per ton vs a cost of $96 per ton to dispose. And there is no question reuse enhances the environment, not just by reducing what goes to landfills and incinerators, but by avoiding the activity in making the item in the first place, with even greater harm, at the other end of the pipe. 1 The Corporation is formed to conduct activities which are exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 50l(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as it may be amended from time to time (the "Code") . Its public and quasi-public purposes are the following: a. To reduce waste by providing and promoting alternatives for reusable materials; partnering with local solid waste programs and existing reuse programs to realize efficiencies and expand services; actively procuring materials through deconstruction and pick-up/delivery services; and working with businesses and institutions to meet their reuse needs. b. To partner with existing social service and educational programs to provide training in reuse industries. However, nothing herein shall authorize the Corporation to operate or maintain a charter school. a nursery school. an elementary school, or a secondary school. c. To educate the public about the value of reusable materials and teach people how to transform materials for practical and creative applications. d. To operate one or more centers that offer quality used materials to the public. e. To provide a deconstruction service that safely deconstructs buildings in an environmentally responsible manner. f. To provide value-added services through appliance and electronics repair, computer upgrades, and other activities, increasing the value of reusable materials. g. To provide consultation services on reuse to communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, and other entities requesting assistance. FINGER LAKES REUSE ∙ 214 ELMIRA RD, ITHACA, 14850 ∙ 607-257-9699 ∙ ITHACAREUSE.ORG Reuse is gaining attention and momentum in NYS. Finger Lakes ReUse, Syracuse University’s Center for Sustainable Community Solutions , CR0WD (Circularity, Reuse and Zero Waste Development) and SUNY-ESF’s Center for Sustainable Materials Management collaborated to host the first statewide Reuse Summit in NY on June 16, 2022: more than 160 people attended from 7 states, 32 NY counties, and 64 NY communities. In the last several years, Finger Lakes ReUse has been recognized through more than 150 successful grant applications, and a number of awards for outstanding performance from the NYS Assn of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (NYSAR3), the Town of Ithaca, NYSDEC, US EPA, the

FAQs

What is Finger Lakes ReUse’s mission in this submission?

To enhance community, economy, and environment through reuse. It describes providing consultation and education on reuse and operating centers and services that support reusable materials.

How does the document explain reuse’s difference from recycling?

Reuse is presented as more environmentally preferable than recycling and as more than a thrift store. It emphasizes reducing waste while also avoiding the high-energy, often fossil-fuel-driven processes of extraction, production, and transport.

What recommendations does the submission make for the state?

It recommends focusing on and investing in community-level reuse across the state. It also suggests a collaborative regional network to manage and redistribute large volumes for maximum impact.

Sep 22, 2026

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