Things You Never Knew Were Recyclable

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Sometimes recycling takes creativity and also some knowledge of the industry.  It can be confusing deciding what is recyclable and where to dispose of it.  Recycling can really help our environment and also make it a healthier place for us to live.  It is not always easy to know exactly what can be recycled, there are some great recyclable items that are available in your everyday life that you would never think to recycle. 

• Hair- Human Hair is compostable and recyclable.  The hair from your brush or fur from your pet holds a lot of useful nitrogen that can be thrown in a compost pile.  You can donate your hair to create booms that soak up oil spills.
• Jeans- Donating your jeans to Goodwill is always a good option.  But if they are too raggedy, they can be recycled to make insulation products, to be used for interior and exterior walls and ceiling applications. 
• Cotton Swabs- Cotton is also a good material for a compost bin.  Cotton balls, cotton swabs, lint from the dryer and even old shredded cotton and wool clothing can go into your compost.
• Keys- Keys are made of valuable metal, programs like Keys for Kindness raise money for Multiple Sclerosis through recycling keys.
• Golf Balls- Most golf balls are made in two or three parts.  A two piece ball is composed of just rubber and plastic which are obviously recyclable.

For a full list of obscure recyclable items please visit http://goo.gl/n7yHVH.  Call Boro-Wide Recycling for all of your recycling and waste removal needs residential or commercial. 

People Don't Recycle Damaged Goods

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

The growth of the recycling rate in the United States is growing, but the progress is much slower than it should be.  The recycling rate has risen by less than 6 percent in the last ten years, but why is it so slow?  A recent study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, seeks to answer this common question by looking beyond the typical answers or excuses, like curbside recycling access and confusing plastic resin codes.   This study looks to examine the thought process that leads consumers to toss recyclables in the trash.

The study found that consumers are already hardwired to believe that damaged or incomplete products, like small or ripped paper and dented cans, no longer retain their value.  After testing their theory through a field study as well as four laboratory studies, they found that once a recyclable item ceased to retain its whole form, users tended to throw it in the garbage.  This process is formed out of habit, the only way it can be overcome is by helping consumers realize a product's true value.  This could be shifted to a larger scale by designing product packaging to preserve a whole and undamaged appearance after opening.  Read more about the study here: http://goo.gl/nTC0kv.

Tell us what you think about this concept below, or on our Facebook page!

WasteCon 2013

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

During the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) 2013 WasteCon Conference in Long Beach, CA, a technical session title "New York City's Waste Conversion Technology Pilot- is the Technology Ripe Enough for the Big Apple?"  discussed where the city is at in the evaluation of technologies to handle the estimated 50,000 tons of waste and recyclables the city generates each day. 
It was determined that the city needs to implement a new solid waste management plan for its waste handling.  The key goals include:

• Increase recycling and build a recycling processing facility in Brooklyn;
• End long-haul trucking and maximize exporting waste out of state via rail and barge;
• Develop containerized facilities for DSNY-managed waste in each borough;
• Stabilize costs through 20-year contracts; and
• Evaluate and build pilot plants for alternative municipal solid waste (MSW) technologies.

For more information on the Conference and the plan, please visit http://goo.gl/LGAZ2p.
Call Boro-Wide Recycling for all of you recycling needs, residential and commercial.
718-416-1656

Free Recycling Apps

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

The world that we live in today is technology-driven.  Smart phones very convenient and help you answer your everyday questions, wherever you are.  Now there is an app for everything, including recycling.  These apps can be great for answering any of your recycling questions like how, what and where to recycle.  Harmony1.com put together a list of the 3 best, free recycling apps. 

• iRecycle:  Developed by Earth911, for finding local, convenient recycling opportunities when you are on the go or at home.  iRecycle provides access to more than 1,600,000 ways to recycle over 350 materials.
• 1800Recycling: This mobile app was formerly known as My Recycle List.  It is the easiest way to find convenient drop-off locations and organize your recyclables quickly and efficiently. 
• RecycleBank: RecycleBank offers awards that you can earn when you sign up.  It allows members to view their points, enter new point codes, set recycling reminders and even order rewards. 

Call Boro-Wide Recycling for any of your recycling needs commercial or residential!

How Recyclebank Incents Communities

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

One of the largest variables in any energy efficiency, water conservation or waste management campaign, is human behavior.  If you can't convince people to truly care enough to participate, even the best designed and thought up solutions do not stand a chance of succeeding or even having a positive impact.  Recyclebank has developed an incentive based campaign that works like a frequent traveler rewards program.  Instead of points for miles, you receive incentives or coupons for local businesses in exchange for participating actively in a recycling program or some other sustainability initiative.  For more information on the Recyclebank Campaign to increase the amount that people recycle please visit http://goo.gl/pdPOQV.

For any of your recycling or waste management services, residential or commercial Call Boro-Wide Recycling at (718) 416-1656.

The City Can Recycle a lot More Than it is

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

A report by the Alliance for Greater New York determined that the city's 2,000-plus garbage collectors often have routes that intersect each other.  The report suggests reducing the number of trash-collecting companies and improving environmental standards.  The report also found that the city could recycle or compost more than 90% of commercial waste, although the current rate is only at 40%.  This means that of the 3.2 million tons of commercial waste generated each year, 2 million tons are buried in landfills or burned in incinerators

So what can explain this inefficiency in New York City?  There is intense competition between trash collectors, often the first thing that they sacrifice is wages and safety standards.  For more information on the report and possible solutions please visit http://goo.gl/tO17zV.

For all of your commercial or residential recycling needs call
 Boro-Wide Recycling at 718-416-1656

How to Reuse Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

As the colder weather approaches you may begin to drink more of your favorite hot beverages to warm you up.  Some popular drinks are coffee and tea, but what do you do with all the spent coffee grounds and tea bags?

• Removing cooking odors- both coffee grounds and tea bags are great deodorizers and can eliminate lingering food smells on your hands like garlic, onions and fish.
• Making wood shine- If you are looking for an all natural way to keep wood floors and furniture shiny and clean, look no further than your morning cup of tea. 
• Keeping your garden pest free- Sprinkle coffee grounds around problem areas to keep away ants, slugs and other pests hanging around your garden.
• Nourish plants- Both coffee grounds and tea bags have loads of nutrients that help household plants thrive. 
• Treat your skin-  Coffee grounds as well as tea are both loaded with beneficial properties that sooth irritated skin and brighten your complexion.
• Shine your shoes-  Citrus scraps and banana peels are a well known method to organically shine your shoes.  Well a damp tea bag works just as well for dark colored shoes.

For more ideas, uses and directions for your morning cup's leftovers please visit http://goo.gl/45xywP.
Refer to Boro-Wide Recycling for all of your recycling needs, wants and information. 

Boro-Wide Recycling: How We Can Help You!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. is a leading full-service provider of progressive and innovative recycling and waste management services.  We assist everyone including construction and demolition customers as well as commercial and residential customers, in reducing disposal costs, strengthening recycling programs and diverting waste from landfills.  To further meet the needs of our customers, and benefit the environment as a whole, we also offer emergency waste pick-up and disposal services.
Our team at Boro-Wide Recycling brings many decades of experience to our customers' needs.  We are dedicated to offering complete satisfaction to every customer, no matter what the recycling or waste removal challenge.  Our customers can relax and trust that the job will get done correctly, swiftly and in the most environmentally responsible way. 

Call today: (718) 416-1656

Email: info@bororwiderecycling.com

Visit our Site: www.borowide.com

MillerCoors Recycling 99% of Waste

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

According to the Albany Herald Executives at MillerCoors announced this week that their brewery located in Albany, GA is now recycling 99 percent of its waste.  The company that usually sends over 40 tons of waste to a landfill each month, will now be doing its part to reduce the waste that is piling up in our nation's landfills.  The Albany plant will become the sixth MillerCoors brewery nationwide to become waste-free as part of the company's ongoing effort to become more environmentally friendly everyday.

According to Executives, the company has been working to become better stewards of the communities in which they operate while also remaining economically successful.   “MillerCoors has always been environmentally conscience,” said MillerCoors Albany Brewery Vice President Tim Dill. “We want to maintain the beauty of our city. This is a major milestone for Albany and MillerCoors in general.”

Boro-Wide Recycling strives to get the whole world to recycle.  Help us spread recycling awareness on our Facebook and Twitter Pages.  Interact with us we would love to hear from you.

China Puts up "Green Fence"

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Last year China launched a plan to reduce pollution called the "Green Fence."  This policy bans the import of anything but the cleanest, must tidily organized bales of reusable rubbish, and bars some types all together.  This plan was originally supposed to end in November of 2013, but now Chines industry sources say that the Green Fence is here to stay. 

Before the Green Fence, when American households and businesses recycled their plastic, for the most part what they were truly doing was sending for collection at US recycling companies.  Some of this plastic would then be shredded and packed into bales, while other types were simply just bundled up as they were.  The US recycling companies would then send these bundles to China.  The more China made, the more it needed used plastics, eventually collecting around two-thirds of the US's plastic scrap each year, which was worth several billions of dollars.

China's collection of cheap plastic came at a cost.  Anything recyclers couldn't use was added to China's growing "trash mountains."  Even worse, a majority of recycling processors are small firms that pollute heavily and are hard to regulate.  The outrage of the Chinese public over the country's noxious air and polluted waterways have lead the government to take action and enact the Green Fence.  This means that much of the recyclables from the US are no longer being recycled. 

Boro-Wide Recycling encourages you to take conscious steps to ensure that your recycling is being dealt with and disposed of properly. 

Reusing Plastic Water Bottles

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

The three big "Rs" are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  Reducing can be accomplished by consciously purchasing an eco-friendly, and keeping it to refill instead of buying new bottles.  As for recycling, almost every community has some type of curbside recycling, or local place you can take your used plastics.  The creativity really comes in to play with the third R, reuse.  Statistics say only about 20 percent of plastic water bottles are actually recycled.  which leaves about 80 percent in landfills or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is an island of garbage that stretches for hundreds of miles in the Pacific Ocean. 

There are countless ideas for reuse that range from décor to function to gardening and much more.  You can keep your garden hydrated with a recycled water bottle lawn sprinkler, create a year round cutting garden for your kitchen with a recycle bottle indoor herb garden, or protect your iPod with a recycled water bottle iPod holder.  You can find directions and examples of all of these projects at http://goo.gl/2JrTzp. 

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for more great tips and ideas like these for everyday recycling!

Cradle to Cradle Recycling

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

A common idea is that recycled material are often of lower quality than the materials from which they were made.  Twenty years ago a German Chemist, Michael Braungart developed a new approach to recycling, which is now called "Cradle to Cradle" or C2C after the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.  Their whole concept revolved around trying to make sure that materials chosen for the original product could be reused after the product has finished its useful life.  They were looking for products that maintain their quality when they are recycled.  By planning ahead they can increase the productivity of the disassembly of the product parts before they enter the recycling stage and retain quality.  For more information on the C2C process please visit: http://goo.gl/JHT3a2.

Boro-Wide Recycling encourages the use of reusable materials in all products.  Recycling is important to our planet and the people that inhabit it.  Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for great recycling methods and tips. 

Vending Machine for Recycled Plastic T-shirts

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

At New York Fashion Week, Plastics Make It Possible® unveiled a vending machine that dispenses limited edition designer T-shirt made with recycled plastics in exchange for recycling a plastic bottle.  This campaign is designed to show the public how their recyclables can be reused to create something totally different.  Using a plastic bottle as currency to buy a new T-shirt made from bottles just like it, really drives the point home.  This is also used to celebrate the growing role of recycled plastics in fashion during New York Fashion Week.  Plastics Make it Possible^® has partnered with New York fashion designer Allison Parris for the debut of the vending machine, which will be located south of Columbus Circle on 8th Ave between 57th and 58th streets in New York City from September 9-11.

The T-shirts feature an original design by Parris, who is one of the growing number of designers who have embraced recycled plastics as one of the new go-to materials for making stylish clothing and accessories.  For more information about the recycling campaign at New York Fashion Week please visit http://goo.gl/Yuj06O.

Boro-Wide Recycling keeps you up to date on all recycling news and tips on our Facebook and Twitter.

Recycling Your Home!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Recycling your home when remodeling or rebuilding begins with a process called deconstruction, which is action of taking a home apart, instead of demolishing it.  Dismantling a home piece by piece allows you to save an reuse as many of the building components as possible.  Instead of bulldozing a house and adding to landfill waste, a trained crew can deconstruct a home, saving the materials which can be either donated or sold. 

To begin this process you must first locate a deconstruction expert in your community. Then you need to arrange an appraisal consultation, where the deconstruction company will come to your home and give an assessment of your home's value.  Your home will be deconstructed over a period of several days.  Finally the materials will be donated or sold.  Almost everything in a home can be salvaged except for the sheetrock and plaster.  The items that are typically salvaged include doors, windows, cabinets, lighting fixtures, framing lumber, plumbing fixtures, countertops, copper wiring, roofing materials, brick and flooring among other materials. The items can then be sold for your profit or donated to a non-profit company, you can then collect a tax deduction based on the value of the materials you donate. 

Recycling the raw materials of your home not only benefits the environment but also puts some money in your pocket.  For more information on deconstruction please visit http://goo.gl/2Pj2mC.
Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. is a leading full-service provider of progressive and innovative recycling and waste management services. We assist construction and demolition customers as well as commercial and residential customers in reducing disposal costs, strengthening recycling programs and diverting waste from landfills. To further meet the needs of our customers, we also offer emergency waste pick-up and disposal services.  Visit our Website, Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for recycling news ideas and tips. 

Why Water Recycling is so Important

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Water not only makes up about 70 percent of the surface of our planet but also about 60 percent of our bodies.  It is safe to say that water is pretty important to us.  Recycling has usually referred to things like different types of metals and plastics, but water recycling has come a long way and is now being practiced all over the world from Melbourne, Australia to Anaheim California. 

Water Recycling uses high-tech membrane filters to turn municipal effluent into clean, safe drinking water.  The process starts by moving through filters that have tiny microscopic pores, then using ultraviolet light and common chemicals like chlorine to reclaim and reuse water.  The water is then put into a lake or an aquifer and later goes back into the municipal water system.  Water recycling can also occur with the use of man-made wetlands, by filtering water through hundreds of acres of native plants, which cleans the water through natural biological processes. 

It is no secret that our population has been steadily growing throughout history.  Which is why we must do all we can to conserve our natural resources.  Read more about the process on http://goo.gl/PkGzOS.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more recycling news and tips. 

NYC Takes Aim at Plastic Bags

 Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Empty plastic bags have become the tumbleweeds of the big cities.  Walking down any block in a big city you are likely to see a plastic bag floating around somewhere, whether it is on the sidewalk or maybe just above the traffic of the street.  Some people are very careless with where they dispose their garbage.  New York City has had enough and are beginning to take action against these eye sores.  A new bill has been announced that aims to rid the city of these floating bags.  Under the proposed legislation, retail and grocery stores will begin to charge customers at least 10 cents per plastic bag used.  The same charge will be levied on paper bags, but it was made clear the plastic bags are the main target.

Currently New Yorkers use 5.2 billion carryout bags per year, and the city spends about $10 million annually to transport 100,00 tons of plastic bags to landfills in other states.  This bill looks to encourage the use of reusable bags, to try and reduce the amount of plastic that is being littered and disposed of without recycling. 

For more information on the bill that is in progress please visit http://goo.gl/dvQ896.

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for more great stories, news and recycling tips. 

NYC's Recycle Everything Campaign

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

New Yorkers already take a progressive approach toward recycling.  It is a task that is taken very seriously, especially in NYC.  There is always room to improve on our efforts, which is why Mayor Bloomberg is implementing the first major recycling campaign in 20 years.  He is encouraging New Yorkers to "Recycle Everything" in an ad campaign that he has slapped on subways, buses, newsstands, in newspapers and magazines, online and on the radio.  This campaign follows the recent expansion of the City's curbside recycling program in April and the launch of organics collection pilots across the five boroughs.  This is all in an effort of the main goal to double the amount of waste that New Yorkers divert from landfills by 2017.  Reaching this goal has added incentive, which will save taxpayers at least $60 million.

For your residential or commercial waste removal and recycling needs that cannot be picked up for curbside collection, contact Boro-Wide Recycling at 718-416-1656

For More information on the campaign please visit http://goo.gl/8P9JoE

Why some recyclables just dont mix

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Not all plastics are created equal.  This has been evident to New Yorkers for some time now.  It is sometimes confusing trying to decide which plastics qualify for the recycling bin.  Some may not completely understand why they have to make this distinction.

The answer is polymers.  Different molecular structures, called polymers, determine all the properties of any given plastic.  Some plastics will melt at 325 degrees, while other may reach 720 degrees before they begin to melt.  Still other thermoset plastics, like desktop computer bodies do not melt at all.  Some plastics refuse to mix with other polymers when melted, which limits how they can be recycled and reused.  The main goal of recycling plastic is to reform the material into a new product, so recycling processors must take all of these characteristics into consideration when deciding which types of plastic they will accept at their facilities.  Recycling is a business like any other, and they weigh the costs against the benefits.  For example most cities do not accept Styrofoam because it is light weight, air filled and the transportation costs outweigh the economic benefits of recycling it. 

Separating your recyclables can be just as important as any part of your recycling process.  To learn more about the differences in polymer structures of plastic and how effects the way you recycle, please visit http://goo.gl/XSC1tM.

For any of your waste disposal and recycling needs, residential or commercial, contact Boro-Wide Recycling.  Like us on Facebook and Follow us on
Twitter.

Seperating Your Food Waste May not Always Be Optional In New York

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

According to an article in the New York Times New York is preparing to create an ambitious plan to encourage residents and businesses to separate their food waste from other trash.  This will be initiated voluntarily at first, as they do with their paper, metal and plastics.  Mayor Bloomberg recently announced that the city will expand its pilot program for food waste recycling, in an effort to catch up to the 180 cities and local governments that already offer curbside pickup of food scraps.  Some of the most determined communities are moving toward less frequent garbage collection as they steer residents away from the conventional black trash bin.  San Francisco has already seen some success with food waste recycling which started on a voluntary basis but became mandatory in 2009.  They gave their citizens an incentive, by charging for trash pick up but not for recyclables.  Maybe New York will do something similar.  

Mayor Bloomberg announced some of the details of the planned expansion of the pilot food waste recycling program which is already taking place in schools, residences in Staten Island and select high-rises in Manhattan.  He also stated that food waste will  be collected in neighborhoods in Brooklyn this Fall and some neighborhoods in the Bronx by the Spring.

Expect to see changes in the way we recycle in New York coming soon.  For more updates like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

Recycle Bowl Competition

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Keep America Beautiful's recycling completion is back again.  The "Recycle Bowl" Competition encourages schools to compete against each other nation wide to see who can recycle the most.  With great prizes to motivate the kids, it has become a very successful annual recycling campaign. 

Registration for the third annual Recycle Bowl is now taking place, the competition runs from October 21st through November 15th.  Last year 1,500 schools participated in this competition to collect the most recyclable material, but also to learn about waste reduction and environmental responsibility through in-school recycling.  These schools included elementary, middle schools and high schools. 

Registration is open to all schools, public and private, in the U.S. at the Recycle-Bowl website recycle-bowl.org. 

Let us know what you think about this competition on our Facebook page.