How To Keep Warm Without Using Your Heat

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

Now that things have finally cooled off, many homeowners are beginning to turn on their heating system and are starting to crank up their thermostat to take the chill out of the air in their home. However, although it's starting to get cold and your heat might seem like the best solution, there are plenty of other ways to keep warm without it for the next couple of weeks. Thanks to the Huffington Post, we've collected 3 of the best ways to keep warm this year before relying on your heat:

1. Switch out the cool, cotton sheets you used this summer for toasty warm flannel ones! Changing the sheets on your bed and adding extra blankets can make for a much warmer sleep and keep you comfortable all throughout the night.
2. Adjust your ceiling fans so that they rotate clockwise throughout the colder months. When your fan spins clockwise at a low speed, it can actually push hot air down to keep you warm.
3. Rearrange your furniture so that you're not lounging by the windows in your home. Even when your windows are shut and fully sealed, you can still feel a pinch of cold air when sitting too close.

In addition to reducing your heating costs, waiting to turn on your heat is another great way to conserve energy in your home! Since your heating system is an appliance that consumes quite a bit of energy, keeping it off for as long as comfortably possible reduces the amount of energy that your home will need to use.

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.

Recycled Halloween Decorations and Crafts

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

With Halloween just about two weeks away, it's likely that you're looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit at home. While decorating your home with lights and motion sensored objects can be both exciting and inviting for the little ones on Halloween night, we recommend taking a different approach and haunting your home with DIY decorations made out of old or unused items around your house. See below for a few spooky craft ideas for some inspiration:

Glass Pumpkins:
Start by collecting an old glass jar, some orange tissue paper and a black sharpie or felt. Once you're ready, completely cover the jar in tissue paper pieces, then using your black sharpie or felt, design your very own jack-o-lantern face on either side.

Egg Carton Bat:
To create a bat out of an old egg carton, cut away three of the egg compartments from the bottom half of the carton - the two outer shells will serve as the wings, while the middle will be used for the face. Next, paint the piece you have cut out black and attach two eyes to the front. If you'd like to hang the bat around your home, poke a hole through the top and add a string!

Halloween Wreath:
Using old plastic bags (preferably orange) and a hanger, you can create a Halloween wreath for your front door! Start by adjusting the coat hanger into a circle, then cut your plastic bags into several square pieces. To complete the wreath, tie each piece around the hanger until it is no longer visible.

For more detailed instructions and photos of each of these projects completed, please 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.  

Basic Home Recycling Tips

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Do you recycle in your home? When most of us think of recycling at home, we're quick to believe that throwing all of our recyclables into a recycling bin and putting it on the curb for curb side pickup is enough. However, it's important for homeowners to realize that collecting all recyclable materials in one bin isn't as effective, which is why it's important to filter and separate products before putting them out for recycling.

The following are a few tips that you can follow as you prepare for the next recycling pickup:

1. Newspapers should be completely separated from all other items since they go directly to "newsprint recycling."
2. Magazines, phone books, computer paper and envelopes can be collected in one bin.
3. Food cans should be rinsed out once they are empty and the labels should be removed.
4. Caps should be removed from plastic bottles before tossing them in the recycling bin.
5. Staples do not have to be removed from paper before recycling, but rubber bands and plastic wrapping must be.

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.  

Three Green Tips for Fall

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Just because the seasons change doesn't mean your efforts have to! As you begin to get your home ready for the cold temperatures that lie ahead, there are plenty of great ways that you can continue to go green and conserve energy in your home, even when you think you must rely on heavy use appliances like your heating system to maintain your comfort. Looking to learn how? See below for three ways that you can go green this fall season:

1. Lower the heat: Although your first instinct would be to turn up the heat on cold days and nights, consider other ways that you can keep warm such as bundling up in sweaters or putting extra blankets on the bed!
2. Inspect windows and doors: Before turning on your heating system for the season, check your windows and doors to make sure there are no cracks or leaks in your weather stripping. Leaks around windows and doors are a top contributing factor when it comes to wasting energy...and money!
3. Bake accordingly: If you'll be baking your favorite pumpkin pie this month, make an effort to do so on a cold day. Rather than crank up your thermostat, your oven can serve as an alternative source of heat! 

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. 

From Sweater To Scarf, Repurposing Old Sweaters!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

As you rearrange your closet and bring your fall clothes to the front, you've probably come across a few of last year's favorites that either don't fit or aren't up to your style standards for this year's fall fashion. But instead of tossing out those old sweaters you used to love, why not turn them into another fall accessory that you can use to keep warm as the temperatures begin to drop? The following is a simple DIY project that you can do to turn your old sweaters into a brand new, one of a kind scarf.

Materials Needed:

• Sweater(s)
• Card stock or cardboard
• Hot glue gun
• Fabric scissors
• Painter's tape

Directions:

1. Attach your piece of card stock or cardboard to your sweater using painter's tape, then cut around the piece to divide your sweater(s) into even square sections.
2. Lay out all of your square pieces in a pattern of your choice, then using your hot glue gun, attach each piece together so that you have one long piece of fabric.
3. To create an infinity scarf, line up the two ends and glue them together the same way you did with the rest of your sections.
4. Lay flat to dry and enjoy!

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. 

A Guide To Recycling Codes: Plastics 4-7

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

In our last blog, we introduced you to the first three recycling codes and provided some insight on the products they symbolize and whether or not they can be recycled. Today, we'd like to focus on the final four! See below:

Number 4 Plastics:

• LDPE (low density polyethylene)
• Found in bread, frozen food, tote bags, furniture, carpet and squeezable bottles
• Although some communities and recycling facilities accept them, these plastics are not usually recycled through curbside programs

Number 5 Plastics:

• PP (polypropylene)
• Found in syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, medicine bottles and straws
• These plastics can be recycled through curbside programs 

Number 6 Plastics:

• PS (polystyrene)
• Found in meat trays, egg cartons, carry out containers and aspirin bottles
• These plastics can be recycled through curbside programs

Number 7 Plastics:

• "Miscellaneous"
• Found in sunglasses, DVDs, iPod cases, and three to five gallon water bottles
• These plastics are usually not recycled through community programs, but recently, some curbside programs have started to accept them

The next time you use a plastic product, we encourage you to take a close look at the recycling code it contains to discover whether or not it belongs in your bin for the next curbside pickup!

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.

A Guide To Recycling Codes: Plastics 1-3

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

If you've ever looked closely at a plastic container, you've probably noticed the recycling symbol along with a number and letter code located on its exterior. Although most people pay little attention to these codes, they are actually very important to recognize since they tell you a lot about the makeup of the container and its ability to be recycled in your local curbside program.

Are you familiar with each of the codes and which products they're associated with? If not, check out the first three below!

Number 1 Plastics: 

• PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
• Found in soda bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers and oven-able food trays
• These plastics can be recycled through most curbside programs

Number 2 Plastics:

• HDPE (high density polyethylene)
• Found in milk jugs, juice bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, motor oil bottles, and butter and yogurt tubs
• These plastics can be recycled through most curbside programs

Number 3 Plastics:

• V (vinyl) or PVC
• Found in window cleaner bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, medical equipment, siding and piping
• These plastics can rarely be recycled through curbside programs

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.