How To Throw An Eco-Friendly New Year's Eve Party

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

New Year's Eve is one of the most popular nights for a celebration between friends and family. Whether you spend the evening at home or out and about, the moment when we say goodbye to one year and hello to the next often occurs during a highly anticipated New Year's Eve party.

If the countdown to 2015 will be happening at your home this year, check out the following tips to learn how you can have an eco-friendly night:

Use Reusable Decor and Accessories
Instead of using paper place settings and purchasing party hats that say "2015" on them, make an effort to select items that can be reused time and time again. You might even find that festive hats which simply state "Happy New Year" are nicer than those that specify the year!

Recycle Champagne Bottles
One of the most common beverages sipped at 12:00 AM on January 1 is champagne. That means your home is likely to be filled with different brands that satisfy the tastes of both you and your guests! As you finish out the evening, be sure that all champagne bottles are placed in the proper bin for recycling.

Buy In Bulk and Buy Only Enough
If you're in charge of purchasing food for the night, shop carefully. For example, instead of buying individually packed appetizers, buy your favorite finger foods in bulk! Additionally, be sure to only buy food that will find its way to your guests' stomachs. Although most people buy more to avoid not having enough, the leftovers usually end up in the trash.

On the other hand, if staying home isn't on the agenda for the big night, coordinate with others to carpool to your destination or walk if possible! Taking one car (or no cars) is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint on one of the busiest nights of the year!

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.

Ways To Reuse Your Christmas Tree

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

On the days following Christmas, one of the most common items found on the curb is the Christmas tree that many feel has served its purpose. However, although your tree may no longer be needed to act as a symbol of the holiday season, there are several other ways it can be used around your home so that it doesn't end up in the trash immediately following the holiday's end. See below for three ways that you can reuse your Christmas tree this year:

1. Fire Starter: Rather then spend money on fire wood for your fire pit or fire place, use your tree's trunk and branches instead! However, before you use it to start a flame, be sure that all ornaments and tinsel has been removed.
2. Mulch: Loose tree needles that you often find yourself sweeping up after the holidays can be a great source of mulch for your garden during the winter season. If you have a garden that you'd like to see thrive in spring, consider using your Christmas tree's needles to help.
3. Bird Feeder: Although the saying goes that birds fly south for the winter, there are still plenty around that need to be fed. Using your branches and a small dab of peanut butter, you can be your local birds' saving grace when it comes to finding food. To make your own bird feeder, cover a few branches in peanut butter or a similar substance, then dip it in bird seed and place it outside!

For more great ways to reuse your Christmas tree, click here.

Of course, if you're not looking to keep your tree around for much longer, the best thing you can do is dispose of it properly! To find out how your tree can be recycled, contact your local waste management department and inquire if there is a tree recycling program you can participate in.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.

3 Ways To Reduce Holiday Food Waste

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

If you plan to host the holidays at your home, then you're probably also responsible for cooking most of the food. Furthermore, even when guests contribute their own appetizers and desserts, it's your kitchen that's going to be stocked with leftover food items that people would prefer not to take home. Unfortunately, as a result, most of that food ends up on your curb the following week to be picked up by your sanitation and recycling departments.

This year, however, we encourage all holiday hosts to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste once their holiday festivities are over. See below for a few strategies that can keep more food on your table and less food in your trash:

1. Make Less: While most people say it's better to have more than less, most of the time, making more is equivalent to making "too much." To lessen the amount of food you waste, carefully consider how many people you are having over and make just enough to give everyone one or two servings.
2. Take Less: Before guests are invited to fill their plates, ask that they take food based on what their stomach says rather than what their eyes say. More often than not, food goes to waste because people take more than they can handle.
3. Eat Leftovers Within Three Days: If you store leftovers in your fridge, make an effort to eat them within three days time. When food sits in the fridge for too long, it starts to go bad and therefore ends up in the trash. If you anticipate that you won't want to eat the same food for a while, store it in the freezer to preserve it instead.

For more great ways to reduce holiday food waste, click here.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help you in your recycling efforts, and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news in recycling efforts and eco-friendly tips.

E-waste Eliminated from NYC Curbside Pickups in 2015

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

Are you a current resident of New York City or a surrounding borough? Do you anticipate throwing away old TVs, computers and gaming systems after you exchange this year's holiday gifts with friends and family? If so, it's imperative that you are on board with the new changes to New York's recycling laws!

As of January 1, 2015, it will be illegal to dispose of e-waste through traditional curbside recycling programs in all of New York State and the five boroughs. In an effort to reduce the amount of toxins emitted into the air we breathe, residents will be required to recycle their old electronics at designated drop off areas such as The Salvation Army or Best Buy instead. And although you may be thinking that recycling teams couldn't possibly know if your smaller electronics are wrapped up with the rest of your recycled goods, keep in mind that there is up to a $100 fine for each recycling offense.

Although the law is effective after the first of the year, tickets for improperly recycled e-waste will not be distributed until March. However, this leeway is not to be taken for granted and is given to allow all New York residents the chance to become familiar with the new law.

The following is a list of some electronics that will no longer be accepted through curbside pickup:

• Laptops/tablets
• Printers
• TVs
• DVD players
• Cable Boxes
• Gaming Consoles
• Computer accessories

For a complete list of items that will be banned from curbside recycling in 2015, click here.

While this new law requires residents to put in a little extra effort, the rewards it has for our environment will be well worth it.

To learn more about New York's new recycling guidelines, please click here.

Ways To Reuse Cardboard Boxes

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

Have you been doing a lot of online shopping over the past couple of weeks? Although packages are delivered year round, the holiday season means an excess of cardboard boxes are finding their way to our front stoops. But once the gifts that lie inside are taken out and re-wrapped, what is one supposed to do with so many empty boxes? Unless your items are too big to fit in a standard gift box or bag, chances are you'll toss the cardboard box to the curb.


This year, however, we encourage you to put your cardboard boxes to good use rather than let them take up space in your home until the next curbside pickup. See below for a few ways that you can do so:

1. Create home storage solutions by covering cardboard boxes in felt or fabric that match your home's decor.
2. Provide your furry family members with a cozy place to sleep by placing old blankets on the bottom and cutting out a piece of the box for easy entrance.
3. Cut out several circles or squares to make your very own set of drink coasters.
4. Make your own gift tags for this year's presents.
5. Design your own puzzle using one side of the box.

At Boro Wide Recycling, we believe that you should make the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) an integral part of your everyday routines. That's why we highly recommend letting this year's delivery boxes stick around for a while! For a more detailed list of ways that you can reuse cardboard boxes, click here.

Boro Wide Recycling is a leading full-service provider of comprehensive recycling and waste management services. In addition to assisting residential and commercial customers with their waste, our services extend to construction and demolition customers as well. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today!

I'm Dreaming Of A "Green" Christmas

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Christmas is only two weeks away, and that means stores are filled with shoppers working to cross off what's left on their holiday 'to do' list. Additionally, homeowners are continuing to put the finishing touches on their Christmas trees and outdoor decor to bring more of the holiday spirit into their home. However, like with most holidays, this time of year brings an increase in waste as more and more products are continuing to be bought and used.

While most people can be found dreaming of a white Christmas, here at Boro Wide Recycling, we're dreaming of a "green" one. That's why today, we'd like to offer three simple ways that you can have a green Christmas too! Check them out below:

1. Shop Online: When shopping for this year's Christmas gifts, try to do as much of it as you can online. This way, you'll save gas and avoid the stress that comes with overcrowded shopping malls. If, however, you must make the trip, make an effort to do all of your errands at once to limit driving time.
2. Use LED Lights: LED lights are considered to be much more energy efficient than traditional Christmas lights. Regardless of whether you're lighting up your tree or your home, choose products that are made with LED bulbs.
3. Wrap Less: While opening gifts is something children look forward to most on Christmas morning, the less you wrap, the less waste you'll have! This year, consider designing a scavenger hunt so you don't have to wrap as much! On the other hand, if you plan to stick with tradition, see how many of your gifts you can wrap together to minimize your use of paper and gift bags.

What eco friendly actions do you plan to take this holiday season? Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Twitter to let us know!

At Boro Wide Recycling, we work to keep our planet safe by providing comprehensive recycling services to commercial and residential customers. Join us in our efforts! Contact us to learn how we can help.

Ecofriendly Travel Tips

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

This time of year, many families take advantage of their child's holiday break and jet set somewhere warmer to escape the cold that winter brings. Regardless of where, when and how you travel, you can take your eco-friendly habits with you and continue to act in environmentally conscious ways. If you're planning to travel this holiday season, keep the following travel tips in mind to help you make your vacation that much greener:

Before:
Prior to your vacation, always do the following:

• Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics to limit the amount of energy your home uses while you're gone.
• Lower the heat in your home so that your heating system doesn't work as hard when no one is there to soak up the warmth it produces.
• Make sure your itinerary and any reservations you need are packed to avoid having to re-print your information when you arrive.

During:
While you're on vacation, don't forget to:

• Turn off your hotel room's lights when you are not in the room.
• Walk to any destinations that are in close proximity to your hotel.
• Only take one map or brochure for your group to share when navigating the area.

Are you planning to take a trip this month or next? Though your mind may be elsewhere as you're enjoying your time off, if you can remember these simple tips, you'll help reduce the amount of energy that is wasted, the amount of waste that is produced and the amount of pollutants that are emitted into our air.

To all those traveling this season, we wish you a very safe and happy trip and would love to hear how you kept the environment in mind when you return!

5 Tips To Recycle Your Way Through The Holidays

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

While it may only be December 2, most people are already in the midst of the holiday craze. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, packages are flying off the shelves by the dozens - but that means so is wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows and ribbon.

Although it can be easy to get caught up in all of the excitement that this time of year brings, it's important to keep the environment in mind as you go. After all, the holiday season is a time of giving, so why not give back to the environment too? To help you continue with your green efforts, we've collected 5 simple ways that you can recycle this holiday season; see below:

1. Save any gift bags and boxes that you receive and reuse them this season or tuck them away for next year.
2. Reuse tissue paper that your gifts are packaged in to store delicate holiday decorations at the end of this season.
3. When purchasing wrapping paper, look for products that are made from recycled paper. Or, be creative and wrap gifts with other household items like old newspapers instead!
4. Turn off all holiday lights and decorations during the day.
5. Decorate your tree with homemade ornaments rather than buy a new set.

Though these actions may seem small, the result of a collective effort isn't! This holiday season, we'll do our part; will you do yours? Be sure to visit us on our Facebook or Twitter page and let us know how you plan to contribute to the larger recycling efforts during the most wonderful time of the year!