Stony Brook study finds LI recycling decreasing

Researchers at Stony Brook University announced Tuesday that recycling on Long Island has decreased nearly 20 percent over the past decade, according to a new study.

The study, called “Recycling on Long Island 2009: A report on municipal programs in Nassau & Suffolk counties,” found that recycling on Long Island has been on a steady decline since 1998 due to a decrease in recycling education and a failure to accurately document recycling efforts.

The study found Town of Brookhaven’s recycling rate in 2009 was 30 percent. While Supervisor Mark Lesko said recycling rates are up 10 percent this year, he believes there’s more work to be done, adding that he found the study’s findings “disturbing.”

“It’s a wake up call for the entire region,” Mr. Lesko said at a press conference held at the town’s Materials Recovery Facility in Yaphank. “We must recycle more.”

The Town of Riverhead had the lowest recycling rate at 10 percent, however researchers noted that the town doesn’t keep track of yard waste pickup.

Two other East End towns had the highest recycling rates, including 63 percent in Shelter Island and 55 percent in Southold.

David Tonjes, assistant professor at Stony Brook University’s Department of Technology & Society, said East End towns scored high because, overall, those municipalities have pay-as-you-throw pricing systems, in which residents pay to dispose garbage but can drop off recyclables at no charge.

“Paying to dispose of garbage, but getting free recycling tends to increase the amount of recyclables collected,” he said.

[email protected]

ENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | David Tonjes, assistant professor at Stony Brook University’s Department of Technology & Society, presents the finds of a recent study that shows recycling on Long Island has decreased nearly 20 percent over the past decade.