Ways To Minimize Your Use Of Plastic

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Take a minute to think about all of the products and materials you come into contact with each day - which would you say you use the most? Paper? Plastic? Glass? While all three are likely a big part of your day, we bet plastic is one of the more popular - just think about how many water bottles you drink each day alone!

But since plastic consumption is something that environmental efforts are constantly trying to reduce, we want to encourage you to begin minimizing your use of it as well; here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Bring your own reusable bags when taking a trip to the grocery store. Although it can be convenient to use the bags provided when you check out, bringing your own is much healthier for the environment!
2. Keep a mug or reusable water bottle by your side to limit how many plastic beverages you reach for when you're thirsty. To further cut down on your plastic use, you might even consider purchasing a water filter for your home so that you don't have to stock your fridge with plastic products.
3. Avoid using plastic silverware at home, especially when you have guests over. Even though you might spend more time filling your dishwasher or cleaning the dishes by hand, it will be time well spent since it is a result of reducing plastic waste!
4. Buy things in boxes rather than bottles whenever possible. Why? Not only is cardboard easier to recycle, but the less bottles you buy, the less plastic that goes to waste!
5. Purchase a lunchbox to help with the transportation of food to and from work or school. With that in mind, make an effort to only pack items that don't use plastic packaging in there as well!

Although at first it might seem like plastic is unavoidable, the truth is that there are many alternatives that you can use each and every day. What steps will you take to reduce your plastic consumption?

Boro-Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at 718-416-1656.

Make Every Day Green In NYC

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Keep up the green work! Just because Earth Day has passed doesn't mean you shouldn't continue to do your part to sustain a happy and healthy environment. Here are a few great tips that we compiled to help you celebrate Earth Day all year round!

Ride A Bike: Not only does bike riding help keep you physically fit, but it does wonders for the environment as well! Leave your fuel-burning car parked in the driveway and hop on your fuel-free, self-powered alternative mode of transportation. Yes, we know that for some, a morning bicycle commute to work is a lot to ask, but what about those weekend trips to see friends or visit the grocery store? Even riding your bike once a week (though we hope you choose to ride more often!) will make an impact on the environment.

Eat Local: On the same wavelength as bike riding, eating local helps cut down on air pollution. How, you ask? By eating local you're purchasing from local farmers, so your food has a shorter distance to travel from the farm to your supermarket, and eventually to your plate. (Bonus points if you pick it up on your bike!) Short travel distances mean less time on a tractor-trailer that’s emitting fumes during the entire voyage.

Replace The Plastic: Plastic is not biodegradable, and therefore will never break down. Instead of grabbing that store-bought bottle of water before work every morning, invest in a reusable water bottle and leave it at your desk. That way, you can refill and re-fuel all day long, at no expense to the environment!

Improve Your Green Thumb: Fill those tree beds, liven up your front yard, or start a vegetable and herb garden in a window box. Why? Plants absorb carbon dioxide and toxins in the air and give off oxygen instead. The more plants on earth, the better!

Follow these four simple steps to help keep our environment green, and always remember to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Do you have a great tip to help make every day a little greener?  Share your tip with us on Facebook or in the comments section below.

Boro-Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at 718-416-1656.

Ways To Celebrate Earth Day In New York City

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

After weeks of anticipating this annual observance, Earth Day is almost officially here! Although our focus has primarily been on how you can celebrate at home, we also want to encourage our readers to celebrate while out and about with others and learn more about Earth Day in the process! That's why we've put together the following list of exciting Earth Day events taking place in New York City as well as a brief overview of its history:

Founded in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day was created for the nation to join together and show support for the need to have a healthy environment. After witnessing the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, Nelson was inspired to promote awareness about air and water pollution and therefore worked to develop a staff of his own that could share and spread his ideas to individuals all across the U.S. As a result, 20 million Americans joined together on April 22 to "demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies," according to the Earth Day Network. Although efforts have shifted to not just solely focus on air and water pollution, the recurring theme of environmental awareness is still evident and promoted on this day every year.

How You Can Celebrate...

If you'll be in New York for Earth Day this year, consider checking out one of the following events:

Earth Day Craft and Mini Garden Tour

When: April 22, 2015 at 3:30 PM

Where: Queens Botanical Garden

What: A great way to involve your children in Earth Day celebrations, this event offers the opportunity to create botanical themed crafts.

Earth Day 5K Walk and Green Tour

When: April 22, 2015

Where: NYC

What: For the first time, New York is hosting a 5k walk and green tour that allows participants to learn all about the city's greenest places!

Green Festival Expo

When: April 24-26, 2015

Where: Jacob Javits Center

What: Join other New Yorkers in learning about green products and services while traveling between different exhibits.

For more information about each of these events, please click here.

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656. 

How To Go Green In Your Backyard

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Now that we have covered how to go green in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and basement, we are up to the last post in our green your home series - the backyard! Although it isn't necessarily inside of your home it is still a part of it, and therefore, it can be equally contributed to as a part of your go green efforts! And although you might be thinking "I have plants in my yard, it's already green," the truth is that there's still a long way to go!

To make your yard as eco-friendly as the rest of the rooms in your home, consider the following:

1. Create your very own composting site to handle all of your food scraps. Not only will this benefit your yard's immediate environment, but it will also help reduce the waste in landfills and even save you some money as you won't need to purchase store bought products to enrich your soil. 
2. Pay attention to how often you water and make sure that you're not leaving your sprinkler on for longer than needed. To use this resource wisely, make an effort to water in the morning - this can help you avoid evaporation, which is more likely to happen later in the day.
3. If you'll be using a fire pit this summer, seek out eco-friendly versions that do not emit pollution into our air - Forbes recommends natural gas or bioethanol ones!
4. Avoid using chemicals like pesticides and weed killers on your lawn. If you need products to help you maintain your yard use a natural approach like compost - that brings us back to tip number 1!
5. When growing your garden, use plants that are native to your environment. Why? If you're trying to nurture plants that aren't familiar with the growing conditions they are being placed in, you will likely have to use more water to keep them thriving.

That just about wraps up our green your home series! Between the past few posts, you now have a list of 25 tips that you can use to make your home one of the greenest on the block! We'd love to hear how these tips work for you, so be sure to visit us on Facebook and Twitter to share your experiences with us.

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656. 

How To Go Green In Your Basement

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

We're back once again with the latest installment of our green your home series! Recently we've covered the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom - can you guess what's next? If you said the basement, you're spot on! See below for five ways that you can make your basement as environmentally friendly as any other room in the home:

1. If your washer and dryer is located on the bottom floor, start greening your basement by only doing laundry when you have a full load of clothes to be washed (similar to how you would with your dishwasher). And when it does come time to turn these appliances on, be sure that you're using the correct water and load size settings.
2. Also in regards to your washer and dryer, upgrade your basement appliances to new products that have the Energy Star label! Products of this kind are much more energy efficient and can help you reduce the amount of water you use during each cycle!
3. Fix any leaks that could be causing water to seep into your basement. When water sits it can encourage mold to grow, and we all know that has a negative impact on the environment and our health! Furthermore, leaks in general are a waste of water, so you'll want to take care of those as soon as possible!
4. Keep a dehumidifier running to regulate the humidity in your home. If there is less humidity it will begin to feel cooler (especially as we are approaching the summer months), which can help limit how hard your A/C has to work - what an easy way to save some energy!
5. Basements are prone to collecting hazardous materials, such as paints and cleaners, that no longer serve a purpose. If your basement has several of these products collecting dust, research your local community's waste policies to find out where you can bring them for disposal!

Although you may not use your basement too often, it's still important to maintain it and apply eco-friendly practices to it at all times. Which of the above will you do first?

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656.

How To Go Green In Your Bedroom

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Moving forward with our green your home series, today's focus is on the bedroom - what actions can you take to make your bedroom more eco-friendly this year? After you're done with your kitchen and your bathroom, use these tips to make your bedroom the third greenest place in your home:

1. Make the switch to organic sheets. Although your current bedding may be the most comfortable you've come across in quite some time, you never know what's lurking in its fibers. When you choose organic products instead, not only are you benefiting the environment, but you may also help improve your health too!
2. Plants aren't just for the outdoors - they can thrive in your bedroom too! To improve your home's indoor air quality and overall oxygen levels, we suggest strategically placing house plants near your bed and in other parts of your room if space allows for it.
3. Replace all of your current lightbulbs with eco-friendly ones. Between your ceiling fans, night stands, wall lamps and more, a lot of your electricity consumption likely happens in the bedroom.  To make better use of these electricity drawing items during your time at home, eco-friendly light bulbs are surely the way to go!
4. If you'll be doing some touch ups to your bedroom's paint during your spring cleaning, always opt for non-toxic alternatives. Sine the majority of traditional paint products are filled with toxins and chemicals, you can harm the environment (and your health) just by opening the can!
5. Although carpeting is cozy, it can be difficult to remove every dirt and dust particle that makes its way onto the floor. If the opportunity presents itself, choose hardwood for your bedroom and use an area rug (organic, of course) when necessary!

How have you been going green at home this spring? Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Twitter to share your efforts with us!

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656. 

How To Go Green In Your Bathroom

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

If you are unaware of our current series, we're taking this month as an opportunity to share different ways that you can go green in all of the rooms throughout your home. Last week, we focused on the kitchen; today, we're going to focus on the bathroom! 

With a little help from HGTV, we've put together the following list of tips to guide you towards having the greenest bathroom on the block:

1. Swap out your current linens for new organic ones. Although your traditional cotton towels and bath products are fully capable of serving the purpose you need them to, organic products can do the same and benefit the environment in the process. 
2. Be conscious about how much water you are using in the shower and how often you are turning the sink on and off - that means turn the water off when brushing your teeth! Additionally, you may also even consider adjusting some of your bathroom's fixtures by installing new products such as a low-flow shower head.
3. Only use natural cleaners or other green cleaning products when washing down the tub or cleaning the toilet. Instead of choosing a product based on brand name, take a moment to read the labels and see which cleaners do not have harsh chemicals listed in their ingredients.
4. Speaking of all natural products, choose these as well when it comes to the gels and soaps you use in the shower. In addition to being environmentally friendly, you may even notice that these products work better on your skin!
5. Last but certainly not least, always used recycled products when remodeling. Even if it's something as simple as installing a new towel rack or updating your medicine cabinet, recycled products or products that are made from recyclable materials should always be your first choice!

Which of these tips will you start to implement on your own? Once you're done greening your kitchen, we hope you'll start to use some of these strategies in your bathroom - you'll be one step closer to having a completely eco-friendly home! Check back soon for the next installment of our green your home series.

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656. 

How To Go Green In Your Kitchen

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Although every month should be Earth month, April is especially important since that is when Earth Day is celebrated far and wide! And being that we are such proponents of the environment and creating environmental awareness, you can bet that we'll be honoring this observance all month long!

To help our readers become more environmentally conscious over the next few weeks, we thought we'd start a series outlining different ways to go green in the home; today, we'll focus on the kitchen! See below for a few habits that you can start practicing in one of the most central rooms of the home:

1. Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load of dishes to be cleaned. Although using your dishwasher can use less water than if you decided to clean by hand, that doesn't mean you should keep it running constantly. If you only have a handful of dishes that need to be cleaned but you would rather use the dishwasher, wait until your next meal so that you can fill it a bit more.
2. Speaking of your dishwasher, always choose detergents that are labeled as eco-friendly. Even though your standard soaps and detergents can get the job done just as well, they can contain chemicals that are harmful when released into the environment.
3. Use your food scraps to your benefit! While it is much easier to toss left over food into the trash, we recommend using any scraps for composting - so long as they can be composted, of course! 
4. Rather than buy cases of plastic water bottles during each trip to the store, invest in a water-filtering pitcher. This way, you can use tap water as your everyday source of water without subjecting yourself to any contaminants that naturally flow through your system. And a bonus? In addition to going green, you'll save on your monthly grocery expenses!
5. Make recycling easy! By setting up a station with bins designated for recycling plastic, glass and other household materials, the process of doing so can become almost effortless!

Over the next week or so, we encourage you to incorporate these tips into your every day routines. Then, be sure to check back next week for our next installment of the series, where we'll focus on another room in the home!

Boro Wide Recycling is a full service recycling and waste management provider. For more information on how we can help you with your recycling efforts, check us out at www.borowide.com or contact us at (718) 416-1656.