LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Town of Bethlehem's Recycling
Department upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2015
United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Champion
Award on April 24, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to duly recognize
and commend those businesses of high purpose and dedicated service with-
in the State of New York which are committed to the vital work of envi-
ronmental preservation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Town of Bethlehem's Recycling Department upon the occasion of its desig-
nation as recipient of the 2015 United States Environmental Protection
Agency's Environmental Champion Award, celebrated on Friday, April 24,
2015, in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Nearly six months after helping to launch the statewide
Re-Clothe NY, the Town of Bethlehem's Recycling Department was honored
with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) highest
recognition, the Environmental Champion Award; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious award was presented to the New York State
Association of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling for the Re-Clothe NY
campaign, and was proudly accepted by Campaign Coordinator, Dan Rain, on
its behalf; and
WHEREAS, This vital organization won the award for its efforts to
publicize awareness of the need to recycle textiles; it is believed more
than one billion pounds of textile materials, with a market value of
over $200 million, is thrown out each year; and
WHEREAS, The EPA found that Re-Clothe NY campaign produced an innova-
tive set of public communication tools, including a website with a
searchable database of textile drop off locations, and a media relations
tool kit and social media platforms; and
WHEREAS, The original idea began when Dan Rain realized that not just
wearable clothing could be recycled or reused, but all types of
textiles, including linen, shoes, curtains, and stuffed animals; and
WHEREAS, Re-Clothe NY was launched as a collaborative effort between
the New York State Association of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling
(NYSAR3), Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART)
and the Council for Textile Recycling (CTR); the first large collection
took place on America Recycles Day in November 2014, and more than
100,000 pounds of materials were recycled and kept out of landfills; and
WHEREAS, Bethlehem, New York, residents have participated in two major
recycling events since the campaign was launched; in that time the town
has recycled more than 54,900 pounds of textiles; and
WHEREAS, In Albany County alone, it is estimated that 21 million
pounds of clothes and other textiles, with $3.7 million value, are
trashed every year; after implementing the Re-Clothe NY campaign, the
County had their first textile collection on April 18, 2015; and
WHEREAS, New York State is the only state in the Nation to undertake
such an extensive campaign, focusing on recycling textile materials, and
developing resources to provide a turn-key template for any state, muni-
cipality or town to raise awareness, and increase diversion of this
valuable and untapped reuse and recycling resource; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Bethlehem's Recycling Department has truly proven
itself to be an industry leader in "green" efforts and initiatives; it
has continuously strived to be an environmentally-friendly municipal
citizen and will continue to look for and adapt new measures to increase
sustainability; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud
the efforts of businesses such as the Town of Bethlehem's Recycling
Department, whose proprietors and staff work tirelessly to protect our
natural surroundings for the benefit of present and future generations
of New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Town of Bethlehem's Recycling Department upon the occasion of
its designation as recipient of the 2015 United States Environmental
Protection Agency's Environmental Champion Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dan Rain, Coordinator, Town of Bethlehem Recycling Depart-
ment.