Did you know November 15 is America Recycles Day? Each November, we\u2019re given the chance to step back and reflect on our relationship with the planet. It\u2019s a time to consider both our personal impact on the environment<\/a> and our collective impact as a global community.<\/span><\/p>\n To celebrate, we want to give a shout-out to our friends at The Arc Otsego ReUse Center for the important work they do in removing would-be trash from the waste stream.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this summer, proceeds from our NYCM employee rummage sale were donated to support the ReUse Center\u2019s efforts: a testament to our commitment to reducing waste and strengthening the communities where we live and work.<\/span><\/p>\n The ReUse Center collects hard furniture, wood, leftover building materials, and various household items, then offers them back to the community at affordable prices. They also accept and recycle polystyrene, expanding local recycling options in the Oneonta area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)<\/a>, the United States generated over 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018. Of that amount:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\t<\/span>Approximately 69 million tons were recycled<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\t<\/span>Around 25 million tons were composted<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022\t<\/span>More than 146 million tons ended up in landfills<\/span><\/p>\n While newer national totals are still being compiled, these figures highlight both the ongoing challenge and opportunity to reduce, reuse, and recycle. When we throw something \u201caway,\u201d it doesn\u2019t just disappear, it stays here on Earth, often for generations.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s where reusing and upcycling come in! We\u2019ve all heard the phrase \u201cone person\u2019s trash is another person\u2019s treasure.\u201d In a world overflowing with stuff, you don\u2019t have to look far to find your next project or a way to give new life to an item that still has value.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur mission at NYCM Insurance has always been to protect what matters most to you,\u201d said NYCM COO and Executive Vice President Jeremy Robinson. \u201cOn America Recycles Day, we\u2019re all thinking about what steps we can take to protect our planet and promote a sustainable future for our children. We\u2019re proud of our green initiatives at NYCM, including paperless billing and paid volunteer<\/a> time, which allow employees to give back to the Earth and their communities. We\u2019re further inspired by the work our partners at The Arc Otsego ReUse Center are doing. As we continue to explore different ways to take care of our planet, we\u2019re grateful to have organizations like The Arc Otsego ReUse Center by our side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The ReUse Center was opened in 2017 in Oneonta by The Arc Otsego, with a mission to collect usable items destined for the landfill and offer them back to the community at an affordable cost. Since its inception, the Center has kept over 3 million pounds of reusable items out of landfills and has recycled more than 20,000 pounds of polystyrene.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCQCGcb0BuZaPCcnb0omh9z-i99giKt_iowcAfR9FC6ceseLVtVlmZdLb00Mkqeff1OIeVi1GUjgKYwSoiVI3fMkERDx9oWnxNv5NL30ijYQASGiZtnbXV61yGYR2Wpgt_wlkc_mV2f23x3onSTpA3pStjWbockx9sj0etcS08Fu37LNOPYycYG204wXo\/s5000\/2025_11_03_America_Recycles_Day_Blog%20photo%20(2).jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy Is It Important to Reuse and Upcycle?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What Is The Arc Otsego ReUse Center?<\/span><\/h4>\n