Composting in San Francisco Collects 600 tons of Organic Waste Per Day!

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Nearly 100 cities are currently diverting food waste from landfills. Although this is great, it’s far from becoming the norm considering most major cities still don’t even have curbside recycling! 

San Francisco has collected one million tons of compostable organic waste since its composting program began more than 15 years ago. Today, the city collects 600 tons a day as part of its overall effort to achieve zero waste by 2020. 

“San Francisco may have been the first major US city to mandate composting, but it is no longer the only one. Curbside composting has experienced unprecedented growth over the last three years. There are now more than 90 cities with such programs, according to Bruce Walker, solid waste and recycling program manager from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability in Portland, Ore.,” (Governing.com).

Why are so many cities taking part in composting? Landfills are maxed out! Americans generate 250 million tons of garbage per year. “Before San Francisco started its composting program in 1996, a city study found that more than one-third of all waste entering landfills could be composted instead. Today, between composting and recycling, the city diverts 78 percent of its waste from landfills,” (Governing.com). 

San Francisco and other composting cities have found that it is cheaper to compost than dump garbage, because it extends the life of landfills by saving space. Diverting food from landfills also reduces carbon emissions and the risk of potential groundwater pollution. Additionally, the end product of composting can be reused and resold as fertilizer.

“But curbside composting is likely years off for most municipalities. Most major U.S. cities still don’t even have curbside recycling programs. Nationwide, the recycling rate is only 33.8 percent -- 3 percent of which represents composting of food waste -- according to the Environmental Protection Agency,” (Governing.com). 

Educating the public on how and why they should contribute to these efforts is a very important factor in the success of these programs. If residents don’t know why they should be saving organic waste, they’re far less likely to do so!

Become a Member of the Maspeth Industrial Business Association

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

 

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. has become a founding member of the Maspeth Industrial Business Association (MIBA) along with other Maspeth businesses which include AWISCO, Davis & Warshow, Canada Dry, Waste Management, and J&R Electronics.  These companies have come together to create a collective voice on behalf of the Maspeth industrial community.

The MIBA, a project of the Business Outreach Center Network, provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing business in Maspeth, Queens. MIBA promotes the development and retention of these businesses and connects them with resources and opportunities to maximize their competitive advantage in the marketplace. 

Bob Reddan & Jean Tanler of MIBA

MIBA provides a wide range of specialized services such as helping businesses to access tax credits and incentives, develop their workforce, perform energy upgrades, obtain financing, find real estate, navigate government regulations, become M/WBE certified, and address physical infrastructure and maintenance issues. 

Whether it’s advocating on your behalf on issues that affect your business, providing networking events and up-to-date information on local issues and resources, or receiving specialized services such as accessing tax credits and incentives, MIBA can help your business unlock its potential for growth. 

Think about this, the Maspeth Industrial Business Zone houses over 850 industrial businesses! It’s the second largest NYC-designated Industrial Business Zone in terms of total square footage, which is 567 acres, and contains the largest commercially used area, which is 20.1 million square feet. With that being said, most of the industrial businesses in Maspeth are small, with more than 75% of them employing 20 or fewer employees. 

Due to its central location and proximity to NYC expressways and airports, Maspeth has a large concentration of transportation, distribution and related businesses. 

Manufacturing constitutes the 2^nd largest business segment Most of the manufacturing businesses are medium and small businesses that employ an average of about 35 employees. This sector includes prepared food, soft drinks, commercial printing, and chemical products manufacturers. There are also businesses dedicated to the production of metal and steel goods as well to corrugated boxes, plastic and furniture. 

Maspeth has a wide range of construction and related business. These include building material suppliers, new single-family units and commercial building contractors, as well as electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, demolition and building finishing contractors. In addition, there are steel and poured concrete structure contractors. 

Growing industries in Maspeth include food manufacturing and distribution, particularly geared toward the Asian and South Asian markets, waste management and discount wholesale distribution.

Industrial jobs typically pay higher wages than retail or other service jobs and are more likely to be unionized and provide benefits. The average manufacturing job pays $48,300 per year, over 32% more than a retail or restaurant job. Industrial businesses in Maspeth are at the heart of the middle class, providing quality employment and economic activity that keeps New York’s economy strong. 

Join the Maspeth Industrial Business Association, alongside Boro-Wide Recycling, to ensure the needs of industrial and manufacturing businesses are met, making Maspeth a better and more rewarding place to do business. 

As a member, you will enjoy benefits such as preferred business services; listing on MIBA’s online Business Directory with the option to be identified on Google Maps and increase your search ranking; free networking events; free workshops aimed at improving your business and the Maspeth area; free newsletters highlighting new programs, services, and upcoming events; and email and fax alerts regarding specific business opportunities and updates on local issues. 

To join, fill out THIS FORM. For more information, contact Jean Tanler at 718-205-3773 or JTanler@bocnet.org.

The Garbage-Men Put Their Own Twist on Music & Garbage

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

The Garbage-Men, a “garbage” band of 5 teenagers from Sarasota, Florida, have put an interesting twist on music:  they make their own instruments from garbage and recycled materials in order to educate the community about recycling! 

The Garbage-Men promote recycling, reuse and community service by playing popular music on instruments made by hand from various garbage and recycled materials like trash cans, water jugs, straws, boxes, yardsticks, balloons and more! 

It all started one summer when Jack, the lead guitarist, made a cereal box guitar and Ollie, the drummer, wanted to start a band. Next, Harrison joined on the flute, trombone and sax, followed by Evan on bass guitar and Austin on glass xylophone. Each of the aforementioned instruments are made entirely from garbage! Here’s the breakdown of materials used:

• Drums: trash can lids, tin cans, water jugs

• Bottle Key Board: glass bottles, jars, water and toothbrush mallets

• Horns: PVC piping, straws and funnels

• Bass: Lucky Charms cereal box, yardstick

• Guitar: Mini-Wheats cereal box, yardstick, toothpick frets

• Saxophone: Medicine bottles, balloons and corn popper toy

Though they’ve appeared everywhere from PBS to America’s Got Talent, their real breakthrough was on YouTube, with their countless videos of classic-rock cover performances using their homemade instruments. 100% of merchandise sales go to the Heifer International Charity. 

Check out the video for yourself below and share with your friends. 

Are you ready to celebrate 100 Years of the Garbage Truck with Waste & Recycling News?

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

According to an article published on MarketWatch, there’s only one truck that arrives every week, like clockwork, delivering size, delightful noise and trash-smashing power; the garbage truck.

Waste & Recycling News will celebrate 100 years of the Garbage Truck and its road to greatness with a commemorative issue, “100 Years of the Garbage Truck” in October 2012.

The keepsake issue will honor and celebrate the garbage truck. “The 100 stories, or ‘stops,’ will include profiles of today’s and yesterday’s truck makers, the men and women who made them great, the top 10 most important technological innovations in the truck’s history, a photo album of classic models, a look at the largest truck fleets in North America and reader-submitted answers to questions such as ‘What do garbage trucks mean to you?” (MarketWatch.com). 

Waste & Recycling News editor, John Campanelli, commented, “think about where we would be, where our streets would be, our public health, without this incredible vehicle. Not only should kids be in awe of the garbage truck, we all should be,” (MarketWatch.com). 

All 45,000 subscribers to Waste & Recycling News will receive a copy of this special issue. “This issue is a great opportunity for our advertisers to aknowledge their companies’ contributions to this vehicle and to acknowledge the men and women who’ve made their companies what they are,” said Brennan Lafferty, publisher of Waste & Recycle News (MarketWatch.com). 

Laffery also noted “there’s a reason there are so many toy garbage trucks; it captures the imagination of children. As adults, we come to know the value of this vehicle and the value of the people behind the wheel, in the garage and in the corporate office,” (MarketWatch.com). 

Everyone here at Boro-Wide Recycling is looking forward to the special issue of Waste & Recycling News, honoring the infamous Garbage Truck!

New York Plans For Bigger and Better Recycling Efforts

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

The Bloomberg administration has set a goal: to double the amount of garbage it diverts from landfills over the next five years.

The plan reflects a deeper commitment to programs that encourage the reuse and prevention of waste, including the city’s long-neglected residential recycling program. “It calls for increasing the proportion of residential and other waste diverted from landfills to 30% by 2017 from 15% now. By meeting a target of 30%, the city would keep 550,000 tons of garbage out of landfills each year,” (New York Times).

Currently, the city’s Department of Sanitation sends 3 million tons of solid waste to landfills annually. 

Mayor Bloomberg said “if we’re going to be the most innovative city in the world, we also have to be the greenest – because that’s how you attract the most talented individuals and the most forward-looking companies,” (New York Times). 

The plan envisions opening two sites this year; one to compost yard waste and one revitalizing recycling from residences and institutions. Mayor Bloomberg will commit the city to expand recycling to include all rigid plastics, like yogurt cups and medicine bottles, by the summer of 2013, when a new recycling plant under construction in Brooklyn is expected to come online. “The effort also calls for increasing the number of recycling receptacles in public spaces to 1,000 by 2014 from about 600 now,” (New York Times).

Both types of recycling, compost yard waste and recycling from residences and institutions, were included in legislation passed in 2010 by the City Council. “That measure required 1,000 public recycling bins by the year 2020 and directed the Sanitation Department to start taking rigid plastics for recycling if it was determined to be cost effective,” (New York Times). 

The efforts still fall far short of what many other American cities are doing, but environmentalists who have followed the New York’s waste management over the years said they were “cautiously optimistic,” (New York Times). 

The city also envisions diverting waste by trying out new technologies to convert garbage into heat and electricity. Mayor Bloomberg’s deputy mayor for operations, Caswell Holloway, said the city would “start soliciting proposals by next month for an installation in or near the city that could handle about 135,000 tons of waste a year,” (New York Times).

Combined, these programs would help the city save $55 million of the $300 million it spends exporting garbage to out-of-state landfills by truck and railway transportation. City officials calculate that these efforts would reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the transport and handling of solid waste by 7 percent by 2017, (New York Times).

Frequently Asked Questions Answered About Disposing Batteries, Paint Cans and Firewood

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Frequently asked questions answered by the Department of Sanitation in New York City.

How do I dispose of automotive or household batteries?

It is illegal to discard automotive batteries in your garbage and recycling can. 

Automotive batteries may only be disposed of by delivery to:
    a. Any retailer, distributor, collector, or recyclers of automotive batteries
    b. DSNY's  Special Waste Drop-Off Sites.

Retailers who sell automotive batteries are required by New York State law to accept up to two batteries per month per person for free. There is a $5 surcharge added to the purchase price of all new auto batteries. If an auto battery is returned at the time a new battery is purchased or within 30 days after purchasing a new battery, the $5 surcharge will be waived or refunded.

Rechargeable batteries may be recycled by taking them to:
    a. Any retailer who sells rechargeable batteries or products containing rechargeable batteries (except small food stores).
    b. DSNY's Special Waste Drop-Off Sites.

New York City stores that sell rechargeable batteries or products containing rechargeable batteries (except small food stores) must accept rechargeable batteries for recycling during normal business hours, no purchase necessary.

Place non-rechargeable batteries with your regular garbage or bring them to a Special Waste Drop-Off Site.  Do not place ANY battery in your recycling bin.

How do I dispose of paint and paint cans? a.     Full unopened cans may be: 1.     Returned to point of purchase, or 2.     For latex based paint only, taken to any Special Waste Drop-Off Site. b.     For partially full cans: 1.     Open can, let paint dry out and place in regular trash, or 2.     Pour paint into a non-recyclable container, and place in trash; put empty metal paint can in recycling bin, or 3.     Pour paint into absorbent material (e.g. kitty litter, sand, rags, newspaper) then place material in trash; and place empty metal paint can in recycling bin.

How do I dispose of tree prunings or firewood? 

In Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, tree prunings or firewood requirespecial handling due to the Asian Longhorn Beetle infestation. Schedule an appointment with the Parks Department by calling 311 or online.  

Waste Transfer Station Near La Guardia Airport Will Increase Likelihood of Midair Collisions and Decrease Quality of Life in College Point

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp.

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

A local advocacy group is hoping the city trashes its plans for a waste transfer station near LaGuardia Airport, which is says attracts flying objects other than planes. 

According to the Queens Courier, “the members of Friends of La Guardia Airport believe the North Shore Marine Transfer Station, which is currently under construction in College Point and expected to be completed in 2013, will increase the likelihood of midair collisions between airplanes and birds.”

Supposedly, the station, which is roughly 100 feet high, would also make it impossible for the airport to implement a low visibility precision instrument approach procedure (IAP), which aids pilots during inclement weather landings. 

Julie Wood, a spokesperson for Mayor Bloomberg, says the installation if IAP at LaGuardia was deemed impossible – regardless of the station’s construction – due to the “many technical and physical obstacles at the airport,” (Queens Courier). 

Julie Wood also was quoted by the Queens Courier saying, “experts at the FAA have studied bird patterns thoroughly and believe that this transfer station will absolutely not increase the risk of bird strikes… anyone who says otherwise is scaring people for no good reason. Building this transfer station will allow us to achieve the important goals of our waste management plan – making it cleaner and greener by taking trucks off the street.”

Furthermore, beyond increased difficulties and dangers to aviation, Paskar believes the station will also create “foul living conditions for College Point residents,” (Queens Courier). 

“A lot of garbage in the borough will be brought to this station to be transported out of Queens… so the people of Flushing and College Point will now have to bear the burden of approximately 3,000 tons of garbage a day from throughout Queens in their community. Hundreds of garbage trucks will be coming to this transfer station and destroying the neighborhood’s transportation infrastructure as well,” (Queens Courier).

Let us know your opinion on the Waste Transfer Station near La Guardia Airport on the Boro-Wide  Recycling Facebook Wall, linked HERE.