Recycling Innovation and Entrepreneurs

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Over the years, we have become much more aware of our effect on the environment.  There have been several “go-green” campaigns launched to raise awareness about the importance of recycling.  When does inspiration begin for recycling entrepreneurs?  It can happen anywhere at any time! 

Inspiration came to Jimmy Tomczak from, Vibram’s Fivefingers footwear line.  Tomczak now utilizes scrap vinyl for his unique lightweight footwear.  Jimmy often preferred to be barefoot but his gravel driveway caused some painful problems.  He experimented with various materials to make footwear before using vinyl.  He was working as a roofer and witnessed billboards being updated.  He arranged to use the scrap vinyl from billboards as a substitute for the costly tarps for roofing jobs.  Eventually he decided to use it to shape into footwear, and today his company produces “paperfeet” sandals. 

Another recycling entrepreneur, Ray DelMuro, a mechanical engineer by trade found his recycling inspiration in wine.  Not drinking it but cutting the glass from bottles and making them into wine glasses.  His company called Refresh Glass, sells his products through outlets such as Whole Foods and Skymall Magazine.  He launched his business dedicated to re purposing wine bottles, creating beautiful yet functional wine glasses out of empties.  He collects leftover bottles from restaurants and other location in the Phoenix area and recycles them to be used for a similar purpose, holding wine.  Finally, one of the most innovative ideas came from the founder of BigBelly Solar, Jim Poss.  One day while passing a trash vehicle in action, he noticed some of the inefficiencies of the operation including idling at the pick-up point, blocking traffic and emitting a cloud of smoke from the tail pipe.  A vehicle whose sole purpose is to clean the environment was actually polluting it at the same time.  After doing research and finding that garbage trucks consume over 1 billion gallons of gas per year, he decided to develop the world’s first solar-powered compactor.  This significantly reduces the collection costs as well as the air pollution from the trucks. 

Inspiration can come from anywhere! There are always people out there trying to help our environment and protect our planet.  New ideas and innovations are forming every day and some, like these, come from something so simple that have developed into ground breaking innovations.  Keep an eye out and maybe you will become inspired to develop your own recycling innovations!

For further information on these entrepreneurs, visit http://recycling.about.com/od/Resources/ss/Recycling-Innovation-And-Entrepreneurs_4.htm

NYC May Force Residents to Compost Food Scraps

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Recycling advocates gained a big supporter in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, when he publicly urged residents of his city to start composting their food scraps.  This is a concept that the Twin Cities has been working on as well.  Right now only a few cities offer to pick up food scraps for composting, but there are pilot programs out there and interest is growing.  New York is launching a composting program that will expand later this year in an effort to make the city greener and reduce the waste.  The program was tested first, in 3,500 Staten Island homes and some Manhattan apartment buildings.  The test was quite successful leading those in-charge to expand the program to over 100,000 homes by this fall. 

As of now, the program is still voluntary but this may change in the next few years.  This implication is leaving many New Yorkers weary of the project, with the main concern being how expensive the fine for not composting would be.  New York is known for being one of the busiest cities in America. 

Almost everyone is always on the go, which is why composting may become a concern for these busy citizens.  It is all an effort to make our environment as healthy as it can be, so fines may be the only way to keep this program successful.  We will have to wait and see if the program becomes mandatory. 

Boro-Wide Recycling strongly encourages you to recycle as much as you can to keep our planet safe and clean! For more information, visit us on the web. 

Today is National Garbage Man Day!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Today is National Garbage Man Day! Thank you to all of the Garbage Men out there for keeping our communities clean. We appreciate all of your hard work!

10 Backyard Items to Reuse this Summer!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Part of keeping our environment healthy and green, includes recycling as well as reusing things that we have purchased.  Although backyards may not accumulate as much junk as a garage, many people do acquire plenty of reusable items for the yard like furniture, gardening supplies and other materials.  After withstanding Mother Nature for a few years, you may decide that you need to replace these items.  Once you no longer need these items or decide it is time for a change, what can you do with these items?  You should always reuse or recycle.  Here are a few ways to reuse or recycle ten common backyard items. 

Garden Hoses: If you wish to recycle most communities have drop off recycling programs.  For those who would rather reuse many clever options exist like poking holes to turn it into a sprinkler or cut it to make a handle for something heavy.

Patio Furniture: Donations are usually the best option for recycling even if its not in great condition.  Depending on what the materials are made of you could bring it to a scrap yard and cash it in.

Grills: If your grill still works they are easy to sell.  Grills can also be taken to the scrap yard for a profit.

Yard Waste: If you are someone who composts food scraps, dealing with things like grass clippings, branches and leaves is easy.  Just add them to your compost and it provides carbon.  If you are not a composter most municipalities provide special curbside pick up for your yard waste.

Fencing: For Fencing you may need to seek a specific recycling solution.  For example metal fencing you can scrap, and plastic fences can be taken to a center that accepts large amounts of plastic and wood can be taken to local woodworking organizations.

Kid’s toys: Good Will always accepts toy donations as well as many other organizations like Second Chance Toys. 

Potting Soil: Potting soil can be donated to local gardens or neighbors starting gardens.

Sand: You can add sand to compost as well, it also helps with drainage  if added to the bottom of pots and used to fill holes in your yard.

Insect Repellent: If you use citronella candles in your back yard the candle may seem useless after the wick has burnt out.  You can melt the left over wax onto a new wick and reuse it. 

Scrap Wood: Scrap wood can be reused even if it is treated for painted.  It can be stripped and used for other projects or firewood.

Are there any other backyard items that you reuse? Let us know on our Facebook page.

How Many Times Can Materials Be Recycled?

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

 

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Did you know that some materials are recycled infinitely? It’s true! Let’s take a look at some materials and how many times they can be recycled and reused.

Metal – Steel, aluminum and copper hold their properties no matter how many times they are melted down! A recycled aluminum can become a new can in as little as 2 months!

Glass – Glass can be recycled endlessly, as long as the colors get properly sorted!

Paper – Paper recycling involves turning the paper into fibers, so it can be remade back into paper. Each time paper goes through this process, the fibers get shorter. So, the shorter the fibers, the lower the quality of the paper. Paper can be recycled between five and seven times before the quality becomes too low to use.

Plastics – Most plastics can only make it through one successful recycling cycle. Most plastics that are recycled are used to become other products.

Read more of National Geographic's article here. Let us know on our Facebook page what you recycled this week!

Origin of the Recycling Symbol!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

 

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Did you know that the symbol was created from a contest? In 1970 the International Design Conference proposed a nationwide contest for high school and college students to continue the growth and awareness for Earth Day.

Gary Anderson, a senior at the University of Southern California, won the contest with his design based off the Mobius loop. The three, green arrows that are chasing each other into a triangle, that we know today.

The 3 arrows represent the 3 steps of the recycling process.

The First Arrow – Collection of materials.

The Second Arrow – The manufacturing process.

The Third Arrow – The purchase and use of the product.

Did you know what the recycling symbol meant? Read more about it here. Let us know what you recycled this week on our Facebook page!