Syracuse University’s Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) is continuing a partnership with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), bolstered with $3.25 million appropriated to the Center through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).
With a long history of leading efforts in sustainable materials management throughout New York State, ISE helped to form and has worked closely with CSMM since it was established, together serving as statewide resources for local governments, businesses, institutions, and community organizations working to improve materials management systems and advance New York’s sustainability goals. Together, ISE and CSMM have implemented this mission through initiatives such as the state-wide Recycle Right NY Campaign, community-level single-use plastic waste-reduction in food service establishments, Certify Circularity NY, convening educational events for industry professionals, and promoting the New York Needs Assessment analyzing current recycling systems in NYS.
The new funding, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), will support priority waste reduction and recycling projects that advance improvements to materials management in New York, continuing important work to prevent waste generation, increase recycling, and strengthen New York’s sustainable materials management infrastructure.
“ISE is honored to have helped weave the fabric of the Center for Sustainable Materials Management since its earliest days, and this milestone funding is a testament to what a dedicated partnership can accomplish. Our conviction at ISE is that community engagement is not peripheral to sustainability work; it is central to what makes programs take root and endure. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and to ensuring that authentic, inclusive engagement remains the thread that runs through all of CSMM’s important initiatives,” said Melissa Young, Director of the Institute for Sustainability Engagement.
“This award demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary partnerships in addressing complex environmental challenges. By bringing together SU and ESF’s academic expertise, and ISE’s community engagement and implementation experience, we can help ensure innovative sustainable materials management solutions translate into meaningful outcomes for communities across New York State,” said Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair Andria Costello Staniec.
“Working together with ISE and CSMM has significantly increased our capacity to reduce waste here in Orange County, whether in food service establishments, such as restaurants and cafes, and beyond. Congratulations to ISE and CSMM on this important milestone — the impacts of your partnership reverberate throughout the state,” said Ermin Siljkovic, Recycling Coordinator, Orange County Department of Public Works.
“Securing funding through the Environmental Protection Fund is a transformative milestone for our Center, and it’s a success that reflects the strength of our partnership with ISE,” said Kathryn Walker, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Materials Management. “Since the very beginning, Melissa Young and her team have been incredible partners in helping communities across New York reduce waste, strengthen local recycling systems, and advance a more circular economy. We are deeply grateful for the State’s investment and DEC’s support; we look forward to building on this momentum together in the years ahead!”
“One of the many reasons for our success at CSMM is because we have a network of amazing partners, like ISE, who are all leaders in their respective fields. We thank the team at Syracuse for their dedication to our shared mission after all these years, and we look forward to what we can achieve together for years to come,” said Mark Lichtenstein, CSMM co-founder.
About the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE)
The Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) – formerly known as the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions – is a nonprofit organization housed at Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science that works with communities to support their sustainability and climate adaptation in areas of materials management and water infrastructure. ISE engages with community members at all levels, providing coordination and expertise in communications, policy, and science to help them make informed decisions that foster economic well-being, environmental stewardship, and social equity. The Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (EFC), operated by ISE, is a pillar in this mission that facilitates the development of sustainable and resilient communities throughout US EPA Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight Native Nations) and nationally.