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 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. 

5 Simple Ways To Go Green

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Did you know that Earth Day is just a little less than one month away? Although it is still technically March, it certainly isn't too early to get started on your celebration efforts. To help you become more environmentally conscious next month and for all of the months following, we put together a list of five simple (and we really do mean simple) ways that you can go green; check it out below:

• Always turn the lights off when you leave the room. Even when you know you'll be returning shortly, every second that your light is on means more energy is being used. As you walk out of each room you enter, be sure to flick the switch from on to off.
• Unplug all chargers as soon as your electronics reach 100%. Even though it can be convenient to leave phone and computer charges in the wall for next time, once again energy continues to be used even though something is not connected on the other end.
• If you will be purchasing a new home appliance, ask the representative you are speaking with if they can show you all options with an ENERGY STAR label. Products are given this label if they meet certain energy efficiency standards, so you'll be able to rest assured knowing your home is on its way to being an energy efficient one.
• Address plumbing leaks as soon as they start to develop. While one drip every few seconds might not seem like a big deal, when it all adds up, you could waste thousands of gallons per year!
• Last but not least, always recycle when possible and buy recycled products. If each and every one of us recycled just one more thing a day, we would be saving more energy, conserve more resources, and continue to limit the amount of space that gets taken over in landfills.

It's that simple! By making even the slightest changes to your routine habits, you can benefit the environment in big ways - you may even see a slight improvement in your utility bills, too!

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. 

Earth Day: A History and Interesting Facts!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Image courtesy of watiporn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Each year on April 22, people all around the world celebrate a day dedicated to our environment. According to the Earth Day Network, this day marks the anniversary of the "modern environmental movement" that first began in 1970.

In 1970, saving the planet was probably the last thing on many people's minds as the US struggled with protest and war. However, unlike others, Earth Day founder Senator Gaylord Nelson felt environmental concerns needed to be addressed after witnessing the results of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. It was then that he decided to take to the public and express his concern about air and water pollution along with other pressing environmental issues.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans, including universities and students, began a protest against the deterioration of the environment. Appearing to be successful, this day led to the development of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

Twenty years later, in 1990, Denis Hayes led another campaign which focused on recycling in addition to other environmental issues. Again, in 2000, Hayes developed a campaign that focused on global warming and clean energy. With each decade raising awareness of different environmental concerns, hundreds of thousands of activists have joined in on the movement and continue to push for eco-friendly habits that will help to protect our planet. In fact, to date, on April 22 more than 192 countries continue to celebrate Earth Day.

Did you know? Check out these interesting Earth Day Facts:

1. Earth Day is considered the largest secular holiday in the world.
2. On the first Earth Day in NYC, the mayor shut down 5th Avenue and used Central Park to celebrate.
3. In 2009, the United Nations renamed Earth Day to "International Mother Earth Day."

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. 

Saving Money By Going Green: That's Rich!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

From an environmental standpoint, green is a pretty popular color. More often than not, green is associated with the color of our planet and is most commonly referred to as a selfless act to protect the environment. But green is also the color of something else we all enjoy; money. The good news is, by going green in an effort to help our planet, you can also increase the amount of "green" that you have in your pocket each month. Thanks to Groovy Green Livin, we've collected the top 5 ways you can go green and save some money in the process:

1. Cut Down on Gas: By reducing the amount of time spent in the car, you're reducing the amount of pollutants that enter the air we breath. Additionally, you're also using less gas, which means you won't have to fill up your tank as often. Consider carpooling, public transportation, walking or biking whenever you can. 
2. Carefully Select Home Appliances: Energy star rated appliances can actually save you money in more than one way. Not only do they save you money on your electric bill, but they often come with a rebate meaning that you'll get some money back.

   

   Image courtesy of
   sscreations / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
3. Power Strips: By plugging all of your appliances into a power strip, you save money by being able to turn everything off when you're not using them.
4. Online Billing: Since the Internet is so popular, it's no surprise that many businesses give their customers the option to pay their bill online. By using electronic billing methods, you reduce the amount of paper that must be used each month and, although your bill is the same, you save money on stamps and envelopes.
5. Limit Water Waste: Did you know that a leaky faucet dripping 30 drops per minute wastes 3 gallons of water per day? Over time this adds up to quite a lot of money, so keep an eye out for any leaks around your house. You can also limit water waste by taking shorter showers and turning off your water when you brush your teeth.

Even better than saving money is the idea that these initiatives are quite simple to include in your everyday plans. That means you don't have to change your habits too much to experience the benefits of going green!

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 Recycle Paper

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Image courtesy of Phiseksit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever taken the time to think of things you use every single day? We have, and one of the resources that seem to surround us throughout every day is paper. Whether you're writing on it, printing on it, or reading it, paper is an item that we probably couldn't live without! You've probably heard that paper is made from trees, which are a natural part of our environment. It is also one of the simplest things to recycle and, by doing so, we can reduce the amount of trees that are cut down each year. To make recycling a little bit more fun, we've collected some creative ways that you can reuse and recycle paper:

Use It More Than Once: Whether you're printing, writing, or coloring on paper, always use both sides. Not only is this an act of being environmentally conscious, but it could also prove to have financial benefits since you'll be saving paper in the long run.

DIY Wrapping Paper: Instead of buying wrapping paper this year, collect old art projects, newspapers, or notepads that would've gone in the trash and use them to conceal packages. Be creative and tape them together in a way that a new design is created on its own.

Bubble...paper? Ever bought something breakable and see the cashier wrap it in paper before placing it in your bag? Any form of paper is great to use if you're looking to package something delicate. Instead of filling boxes or bags with bubble wrap or styrofoam, shred and crumple up old paper; it gets the job done just as well!

Art Projects: Who says you need a blank piece of paper to create something great? New or used, paper-mache projects simply require strips of any kind of paper. Instead of using a clean sheet of paper, considering using something that's already been worked on; after all, you can just paint over it!

Of course, traditional recycling practices are just as effective when it comes to recycling paper. Newspapers, paper bags, computer paper, magazines and envelopes are all examples of paper materials that can and should be recycled once they've served their purpose. The next time you go to crumple up a piece of paper and throw it in the trash, remind yourself of the different ways in which you can reuse and recycle the product.

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. 

April is Earth Month!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

On April 22, people all across the globe will celebrate a day dedicated to our planet; Earth Day! But why should we wait until the end of the month to recognize the Earth? In honor of April being "Earth Month," it's time to increase our awareness and appreciation for our planet and the natural resources it provides. To get you in the spirit, we've compiled a list of some earth-friendly activities that children, parents, families, schools and more can take part in:

Image courtesy of
Master isolated images /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Plant Something: Gather together with family and friends to plant a tree, flowers, fruits or vegetables.

2. Go For a Walk: Embrace your surroundings by taking a walk around your neighborhood or by heading to the park. Not only is this great exercise, but you're also helping the environment by reducing the amount of pollutants that are emitted from motor vehicles.

3. Donate: Earth Day and Earth Month come just in time for spring cleaning. Work with your family to create a pile of unused or unwanted items that can be brought to a donation center. This is a great way to practice recycling and teach others about the importance of reusing and recycling.

4. Visit a Nature Center: Pick a weekend and head down to the aquarium or zoo. Here, you can learn about how certain animals rely on the natural environment and you will leave with an understanding of the importance of protecting the Earth for their safety. Try to do some research before you go, since many of these places may host Earth Day activities.

April is a great time to go green and honor and preserve our planet. How will you celebrate Earth Month this 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. 

Simple Ways to Help Out the Planet This Earth Day!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. 

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656 

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Today is Earth Day 2013! While it would be nice for everyone to be out there planting a tree or cleaning a park of its trash, sometimes we just don’t have time. Here are some simple life changes you can make to help the environment in the long run. They don’t require much time at all!

• Preserve water – Make sure to turn off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth! No need to waste water while you don’t need it. The same goes for showering. Taking a shorter shower saves both the amount of water you use and the amount of fuel burned to heat the water up!

• If you live in a metropolitan city, use public transportation, walk, bike or carpool!
• Reusable cups – When getting coffee or other drinks, use a reusable cup instead of throwing out a paper or Styrofoam one every time you finish quenching your thirst.
• Go Paperless – We already do everything through the Internet and on a computer, cancel those bills that are sent through the mail, you’re just going to throw them out anyway.
• Use recycled paper – Sometimes we need a physical copy printed, buy recycled paper instead. Remember to recycle it when you’re done!

For more hassle-free ways to go green, check out the full article from abc news here! Let us know on our Facebook page what change you’ll be making to go green and help the planet! Remember, it can be simple. Everything helps, you can make a difference!

How Will You Celebrate Earth Day 2013?

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. 

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656 

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Next Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day! Stumped on what you can do? Well, helping the Earth can be as simple as cleaning your neighborhood or local park from garbage. Or maybe you have a bag of bottles and cans, recycle them!

Remember that you don’t need to stop after Earth Day, keep recycling and protecting our environment year round!

For more information on Earth Day, visit earthday.org. Let us know what activities you will be doing to help our environment next week, on our Facebook page!