Tired of Receiving Junk Mail? There's an APP For That!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

I'm sure many of you at some time have been filtering through your email to see tons of junk or spam mail filling up your inbox. Well, now you can download an app to have those emails stopped from being sent.

PaperKarma is an app available on many different phones, including the Android, iPhone and Windows Phone platforms. The app allows users to take photos of the junk mail they want stopped from being sent. The company then contacts the mailer to remove customers from their distribution lists. 

The company launched the free app in Seattle last year. After seeing a big response, PaperKarma went national last month.

"So far, it´s been a tsunami of images and scans coming in," said Sean Mortazavi, CEO of PaperKarma. "Apparently, people really, really dislike junk mail," (wasterecyclingnews.com).

The company says it's biggest positive is stopping junk mail that is addressed directly to a person. Mortazavi said there are always going to be organizations that send spam emails to entire ZIP codes, but that's something that can't be stopped at the moment.

If you have a ton of "junk" at your house or business and need a reliable company to pick it up, give us a call Boro Wide Recycling at 718-416-1656 and we'll talk to you about how to get rid of your junk problem "hassle-free."

Eco-Friendly Products: Are they actually eco-friendly?

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Consumers seem to be buying more "eco-friendly" products, regardless of wehther or not the product is actually eco-friendly. 

Perception Research Services found that 36% of shoppers in 2011 said they would choose environmentally friendly packaging compared with 28% in 2010, according to a news release (wasterecyclingnews.com).

Almost 59% of all shoppers said seeing the environmental claims on packaging positively impacts their behavior to either buy more of their usual brands or switch to others. A huge amount of shoppers said they get frustrated with the way companies promote environmental claims. 26% said there isn’t enough environmental information; 20% are confused by all the different environmental claims; and 22% don’t know which packages are best for the environment.
"We´re seeing a great opportunity for manufacturers to provide truly value-added packaging to their target shoppers by making it more environmentally friendly -- primarily in the form of recyclability and recycled content -- and clearly communicating these aspects," Jonathan Asher, executive vice president at Ft. Lee, N.J.-based Perception Research Services, said in a news release. "We have seen that it is vital to get both the message right as well as the delivery [of the message], because one without the other will create a missed opportunity," (wasterecyclingnews.com).

If you have any questions about recyclable materials, give us a call at 718-416-1656 or ask us on the Boro Wide Recycling Facebook Wall, linked HERE. 

A Subway to Collect Garbage in NYC!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Imagine if New York City had its own subway system to collect garbage? Envac, a company from Sweden, is in discussion with agencies in the New York Area including neighborhood groups and private developers about erecting its vacuum systems for collecting garbage in select locations around New York. 

Garbage vacuums work pretty much like those pneumatic tube systems found in “modern” buildings from the early 20^th Century. You put your garbage—or recycling and/or compostables—into the appropriate receptacle. A few seconds later and, whooooosh, a trapdoor opens that drops your disposables into a set of vacuum tubes. Suddenly, your trash is flying along silently at 50 miles per hours from the powers of vacuum suction toward the recycling center, a biofuel/composting center or an incinerator. 

Envac installed one of its garbage vacuum systems in Roosevelt Island, a thin strip of land in the shadow of Manhattan in the 1970’s. At this time, Envac also installed one of its vacuum systems in Disney World. Currently, plans are under consideration to extend the network to technology campuses being erected on the island by Cornell University and the Technion. 

Also, Envac is studying the possibility of putting networks of trash tubes under the Coney Island boardwalk, in a new development being created by major property companies, and near the Chelsea district in Manhattan. The vacuum operated garbage systems would leverage some of the infrastructure of the High Line, an urban development created from an old elevated train platform. If all works out, pedestrians will be walking underneath trash-filled tubes. Rosina Abramson, in charge of running Envacs’ United States operations says “We can retrofit in dense urban areas so we don’t have to rip up the street.” 

You may ask why this is necessary or important to consider in the New York area? If you think about it, humans now actually cater to their garbage, not the other way around. You store your trash at home all week until Trash Day comes. Cities invest millions a year on trucks specially designed for garbage and employ armies of men and women to usher it along.

With vacuum networks, trash collection gets largely automated. Most garbage trucks can be taken off the streets, eliminating traffic and noise. Receptacles overflowing with food cartons and newspapers disappear. You’re looking at the equivalent of three dumpsters in the picture. Envac needs electricity to create the suction inside of its vacuum tubes, but the diesel consumption avoided means carbon dioxide is reduced with these networks. There will be no odors, no spills, and no vermin. The vacuum systems also facilitate recycling because you just drop your garbage in and there it goes. 

Envac and some developers are even studying the possibility of adding a “pay as you throw” feature to some networks. Residents in a residential complex would only be able to open the doors to the receptacles in their area with RFID cards. A sensor would then weigh the garbage, recyclables and compostables and provide the data for monthly, personalized trash bills. No more subsidizing the slothful.

For more information, visit the article "Will New York City Get A Subway For Garbage," published by Forbes, and linked HERE, or visit BoroWideRecycling.com. 

Indonesian Zoo Loses A Giraffe Due To Garbage And Neglect.

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

At the Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia, a 30 year-old giraffe named “Kliwon” died due to 40lb. plastic ball that was trapped inside the animal’s stomach, an autopsy found (wasterecyclingnews.com). 

“This is extremely tragic, but of course by no means surprising in Indonesia’s zoos, given the appalling way they are managed on the whole,” reported Ian Singleton, a former zookeeper (wasterecyclingnews.com).  The tragic loss was by no means unexpected as the Surabaya Zoo was discovered to have been losing a handful of animals on a monthly basis, due to negligence and poor living habitation (wasterecyclingnews.com). 

To find out more about “Kliwon” and the Surabaya zoo, view the full article HERE. 

It’s important to clean and sanitize properly and Boro-Wide Recycling wants to do just that! Visit borowiderecycling.com to see what we do and become a fan of our Facebook page here.

And The Green City Awards Go To…

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Waste & Recycling News has announced the finalists in its annual Green City Awards competition!

The Green City Awards recognizes cities, districts, counties, and towns that have shown exceptional leadership toward their residential recycling programs. 

Although there were many excellent applicants for the Green City Awards, only 9 finalists will be considered for 3 awards- 1 for small cities, medium cities, and large cities (wasterecyclingnews.com) 

Here is the list of finalists for each category, presented by wasterecyclingnews.com. 

• Small Cities (Fewer than 100,000 residents): Allen, TX; City of Whiting, IN; Rockville, MD. 
• Medium Cities (100,000-500,000 residents): Ann Arbor, MI; Anaheim, CA; Bellevue, WA. 
• Large Cities (More than 500,000 residents): Regional Municipality of Halton, Ontario; Honolulu, HI; San Jose, CA. 

To view the full article, and the programs promoted by each finalist, click HERE!

Check out borowiderecycling.com or our Facebook page HERE to see how we can help New York become a Greener city! 

Cuomo’s Plan To Conserve Energy

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that starting Monday, March 19^th, the “Buy Green, Save Green NYS High-Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program,” will be available to New York residents for the purchase of high-efficiency ENERGY STAR® refrigerators and clothes washers (governor.ny.gov). 

“The rebate program gives residents the funding to make their homes more energy efficient, it makes it possible for New Yorkers to spend less on energy costs, and it provides a needed boost to retailers across the state,” said Governor Cuomo (governor.ny.gov). 

Thanks to funding by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program, rebates of $350 will be given out for high-efficiency refrigerators and $250 for high-efficiency clothes washers that meet Consortiumfor Energy Efficiency (CEE) super-efficiency levels- tiers of 2 and 3 (governor.ny.gov). 

Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA says, “Refrigerators and clothes washers are the appliances where we can make the biggest energy efficient gains,” (governor.ny.gov).  They use significantly less electricity than the federal standard, and super-efficient clothes washers use less water than standard washing machines (governor.ny.gov).

If you would like a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR ® refrigerator or clothes washer, you’ll have to act quickly. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-service basis, and purchases of these products before the 19^th will not be eligible (governor.ny.gov). 

Click HERE to view the full article on the Household Appliance Rebate Program. 

Would you like to learn about other ways to help the environment? Check out Borowiderecycling.com and become a fan on our Facebook page!

Waste To Energy: Bright Idea For NYC

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Mayor Bloomberg fully supports the plan to develop a waste-to-energy plant in New York City in order to convert the staggering amount of waste produced daily into useful energy.

Bloomberg  reported, “New Yorkers generate more than 10,000 tons of solid waste every day and too much of it ends up in landfills … this project will help us determine if some of that waste can be converted to safe, clean energy to meet the City’s growing power needs,” (silive.com).

The pressure to build a site for the green-forward plan rests on Staten Island’s shoulders as they are the only city-owned site offered to firms for use in the RFPs (silive.com).

Fortunately, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro fully supports the plan. “The reality is, landfills are closing down, and common sense dictates that New York City needs to be ahead of the curve on the issue,” (silive.com).

City officials believe that the energy conversion plan is the most optimal way to get New York moving forward. David Bragdon, Director of the Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability says, “We’re opening a door to improving how we meet the City’s needs, while working towards the air quality, climate change, energy and solid waste goals outlined in the Mayor’s sustainability agenda, PlaNYC,” (silive.com).

For more information on the Mayor’s energy plan, read the article linked HERE, and check out Borowiderecycling.com to see how we can manage your waste and recycling needs.

Can We Go Paperless Completely?

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Over 75% of Americans believe reducing their paper consumption is important for the environment and an average of 40% said they would ease off magazines, newspapers, and contractual forms (wasterecyclingnews.com).

Products like the Kindle, Ipad, Tablets and smart phones have diminished the need of paper for a lot of things, but not everything. 

Sam Chandler, Nitro CEO says, “Small and medium business has been slow to adopt digital workflows because the only tool [available] have been expensive to buy, difficult to use and built for companies with thousands of employees.” (wasterecyclingnews.com)

If you belong to a small or medium-sized business, Boro-Wide Recycling recycles a variety of office papers, newspapers and cardboard. To learn more about us, visit our website at http://borowiderecycling.com/. 

Assemblyman DenDekker Backs NY State Sanitation Workers!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Think twice before throwing Monday’s trash at a sanitation worker- it’ll cost you soon!

New York Assemblyman Micheal DenDekker, once worked in the industry for five years, and is now sponsoring a bill that would make it a felony to assault a sanitation worker in the state (wasterecyclingnews.com). 
 
Sanitation workers will be, and should be, treated the same as Nurses, School Safety Attendants, Firefighters, Police Officers, and Metropolitan Transit Authority employees (wasterecyclingnews.com).

As of now, an assault on a sanitation worker is only a misdemeanor (wasterecyclingnews.com).

What is your take on this? Let us know on the Boro-Wide Recycling Facebook Wall, linked HERE.