Committees & Councils
Most of NYSAR3's activity results directly from the dedicated work of volunteer members across New York participating on one or more of our committees and councils. Please consider contributing your time to become active on the committee or council of your interest. Contact the chair for more information and to get involved!
You can learn more about our Committees also, through our NYSAR3 slide show
College Council
The College Council is a program of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling designed to provide a forum for college students, staff, and faculty to share information about common challenges and best practices related to recycling, waste prevention, and other environmental issues. The College Council is a membership-based program offering a number of members-only benefits, including its own listserve, an electronic newsletter, regional and statewide workshops, discounted memberships, and conference registration fees.
Conference Committee
Co-Chair: Bodhi Piedmont-Fleischmann
As part of our organization’s outreach and education efforts, we conduct an annual Recycling Conference and Trade Show in November. Our membership has sponsored and contributed to these annual events since 1990. Over the years, thousands of individuals have attended this leading-edge conference and the trickle-down of information and guidance reaches 100,000’s more new Yorkers.
A great deal of the work goes into this event from arrangements with the hotel, developing the agenda, finding speakers, attracting vendors and sponsors,
The work of our membership is one of the reasons waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting have a strong foundation in NY. We need support and assistance from our membership to assure that the Annual Recycling Conference continues to be a premier event.
Elections Committee
The Elections Committee oversees and administers the election procedures for the NYSAR3 Board of Directors
Green Schools Committee
The Green Schools Committee is a program of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling designed to provide public and private k-12 schools with seed, or start-up money for implementation of recycling and waste reduction programs. Since 2005, over 70 NYS schools have benefitted financially from the program, to say nothing of the environmental benefits achieved by instituting recycling and waste reduction programs in schools.
Legislative Committee
Chair: Bodhi Piedmont-Fleischmann
For more than two decades, the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3) -- and its members from the public and private sectors -- have played a leadership role in establishing environmental initiatives to reduce waste and increase recycling. A key part of that effort includes advancing legislation on the state level with a twofold purpose:
- Promoting public and environmental health, and
- Creating the sustainable materials management economy of the future.
NYSAR3’s legislative efforts help create a vibrant state economy and job growth by supporting statewide policies that capture more materials for recycling-related industries. Many of these materials, including plastics and electronics, were formally considered “waste,” and were headed for disposal, but are now the raw materials for new products, and support tens of thousands of jobs throughout New York State.
Media Committee
The media committee handles all press-related and communications activities of the organization including press releases, media inquiries, website content, e-newsletter, and social media.
MEDI+ Committee
The MEDI+ committee (formely Membership and DEI committes) is focused on promoting and
embodying NYSAR3’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Value and Solidarity Statement. The committee aims to amplify the call for an end to systemic discrimination for any of our diverse R3 community, to increase membership and create a space conducive for young professionals, and to promote justice in work practices in all economic, environmental, and social sustainability efforts.
Young Professionals
(Subcommittee of MEDI+)
A “Young Professional” (YP) is defined as an individual in the materials management industry who is 35 years of age or younger. The goal of the NYSAR3 YP subcommittee is to foster an environment in which young professionals can grow and gain confidence in their careers. Through networking, shared resources, and professional development, YPs will be equipped with the tools needed to become leaders in the 3 R's industry.
Organics Council
The NYS Organics Council is a community of more than 90 NYSAR3 members, industry professionals, and other community leaders from across NYS committed to the sustainable management of organic materials through food loss reduction, food rescue, composting, anaerobic digestion, the beneficial use of compost, and more. Organics Council members work to increase the adoption of these practices across the State through monthly meetings and multiple working groups that collaborate on activities to increase education and outreach; develop end uses and markets for compost; further food loss reduction efforts; expand organics management infrastructure and technology; and support organics diversion legislation. A main collaborative output of the Council is the planning and facilitation of the annual NYS Organics Summit.
Recycling Leadership Awards Committee
Each year, the Recycling Leadership Awards Committee solicits nominations to select individuals and teams who have distinguished themselves by their exceptional contributions to recycling and waste prevention efforts in New York to receive Recycling Leadership Awards in various categories.
Reuse Committee
The Reuse Committee meets monthly to work on efforts surrounding the reuse of materials. From college clean-outs to reuse centers, they are working towards a more circular economy.
Single-Use Plastics ("SUP") Committee
The SUP committee is dedicated to encouraging the source reduction and recycling of single-use plastic items such as bags, bottles, and other beverage vessels, to-go containers, straws, and balloons. The committee is currently focusing on single-use plastic bag source reduction efforts.
W4R Committee
(Women for Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Rethinking Strategies for Managing Materials)
W4R stands for Women for Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Rethinking Strategies for Managing Materials. W4R is a NYSAR3 Committee, working on connecting women of all stages of their education and careers through a variety of in person and online opportunities. We have speakers, panels, group dialogue, mentorship, and professional development. Since 2018, the core of what we do is to provide a platform to share our stories and experiences working in the industry. We believe that our collective stories will empower us to continue transforming our industry. All are welcome to join us.
Textile Council
(formerly Textile Recycling Committee)
In 2015, the Textile Recycling Committee launched the Re-Clothe NY Coalition, a collaborative group of recyclers, non-profits, and governments working to increase textiles reuse and recycling across New York State. The goal of this campaign was to spur local action from all New York State residents to divert their unwanted textiles from the waste stream through reuse and recycling.
Now called the Textile Council, the group was rekindled in October 2023. Reach out to participate!
