Waste Diversion
Effective waste management is a key sustainability effort for New York golf courses, which are demonstrating leadership by recycling and composting over one-third of their waste. Their commitment to waste reduction lowers disposal costs, reduces greenhouse-gas emissions, and conserves natural resources.
New York golf courses achieved a 37% waste diversion rate in 2023, outperforming benchmarks including Buffalo, New York City, and the U.S. municipal average. This means New York courses are transforming what would otherwise be landfill-bound material into valuable resources.
Over 90% of New York golf courses are driving waste diversion, with 63% already recycling and another 28% set to implement programs within five years. Nearly 80% of courses adopted four or more waste-reduction BMPs, over 60% adopted six or more, and 20% implemented nine or more.
What is Waste Diversion Rate?
Waste diversion rate measures the portion of waste which is not sent to the landfill, factoring in recycling and composted recycling. Tracking a diversion rate over time helps measure of the effectiveness of reuse, recycling, and composting programs.
Each of New York’s ten regions reports solid implementation of core waste management BMPs:
For top practices (oil recycling, mixed recycling, composting), every region contributes roughly 10–12 adopters, totaling over 100 implementations per BMP.
Even smaller districts like the Southern Tier and Central NY maintain active programs, underscoring that waste reduction transcends geography and course size.
Common strategies include:
Hazardous‐Fluid Recycling (83.2%)
Separate, clearly labeled containers collect used oil, filters, and antifreeze.
Mixed Recycling (78.3%)
Curbside or on‐site programs capture plastics, metal, glass, paper and cardboard, diverting high‐volume streams from waste.
On-Site Composting (71.3%)
Tree trimmings, leaves, and grass clippings are turned into compost, closing the loop on green waste and enriching soils naturally.
Digital Communications (69.2%)
Transitioning to email, mobile apps and digital signage slashes paper use, printing costs, and administrative overhead.
First-In, First-Out Inventory (62.9%)
Rotating supplies ensures products are used before expiration, reducing spoilage and unnecessary repurchases.
There are benefits of golf BMPs, beyond diverting waste from landfills. On-site composting recycles organics and enhances soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial biodiversity supporting turf resilience and sequestering carbon. Repurposing fryer oil and golf balls promotes closed loop strategies that extend product lifecycles and foster community goodwill. These examples demonstrate New York golf’s commitment to environmental leadership.
What is Assessed
Golf facility waste management data comes from the 2024 New York golf facility survey conducted by Radius Sports Group, which included questions about annual waste, recycling, and composting amounts.
How it is Measured
Conversion estimates were used from averaged ranges published in Measuring Recycling: A Guide for State and Local Governments, by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Washington: 1997. Materials where scale-based weights were not possible (i.e. motor oil, fryer grease, furniture) were not included in these estimates.
