Hailey Lee, a master’s student and graduate research assistant, represented Stony Brook University’s Waste Data & Analysis Center (WDAC) at the prestigious 2024 New York State Organics Summit. Held at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, NY, from April 16 to 18, 2024, Hailey participated as one of the youngest presenters, contributing insights on the pressing topic of “Addressing Food Waste: A State Perspective.”
Hailey’s presentation focused on the comprehensive analysis of food and compostables composition within New York State for the year 2023. Delving into categories such as food, yard waste, non-recyclable paper, recyclable paper, wood, other organics, and textiles, she shed light on the challenges posed by materials like food and compostables, often difficult to separate from the municipal waste stream due to packaging. Notably, Hailey’s analysis revealed that approximately 20% of food contributes to New York State’s municipal waste stream, underscoring the critical need to rescue food from wastage.
The data also revealed that the above-mentioned categories, which can be considered as potential compostables, comprise 72% of the waste stream. However, not all of them are easily compostable. Hailey noted, “Not all materials (mentioned above) could be composted such as diapers and textiles which are not easy to compost, but the number shows that if we have better technology to deal with this trash, we can save 72% of materials from garbage and use them for different purposes or resources”.
Another key highlight of Hailey’s session was her exploration of the relationship between income levels and food waste generation, revealing no strong association between the two variables.
Hailey expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the NYS Organics Summit, where she engaged with over 200 materials management professionals. This platform facilitated the sharing of WDAC’s research findings and provided valuable insights into emerging issues in the field. Hailey’s active participation reflects her commitment to waste management and her dedication to advancing sustainable organics management practices across New York State.
As Hailey approaches graduation this May, her impactful contributions to national and international conferences signal a promising future in the field of waste management. Her presence at such esteemed events not only underscores her dedication but also highlights the caliber of research and professional development offered by Stony Brook University’s Waste Data & Analysis Center.
