NYC Recycling Updates
Special Earth Day Edition

WHY RECYCLE?

Save energy
Recycling saves energy in comparison to producing items from raw materials. Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours!

Conserve Natural Resources
Ever thought about where stuff comes from? Materials are mined and harvested from the Earths store of natural resources like forests and mountains. Recycling helps keep natural places undisturbed.

Save Money
When we throw things away we are actually sending them to a final resting place in a landfill in another state. With nowhere in the 5 boroughs to dump our discards, NYC must pay other communities to handle our garbage. By wasting less and recycling everything we can we help to reduce taxpayer expenses.

NYC throws away enough paper every year to fill the Empire State Building. Are you doing all you can to recycle?

Though we celebrate our blue and green planet every April, most of us know that every day is Earth Day. We are going back to the basics this month to remind our readers that recycling is an easy way to help the planet year round. Seasoned recyclers may even learn something new, or at least enjoy some of the events listed below. Click here to download a printable version to distribute at your event, office or apartment building. Dont forget to print double-sided on recycled paper!

Recycling is required by law in NYC and every week a recycling truck comes by your building to pick up recyclable materials. It couldnt get any easier to do more for our environment than to start sorting out the good stuff. Once you have the hang of recycling, explore other ways to reduce the waste you create.

Quick Guide to NYCs Residential Recycling Rules
for more information visit www.nyc.gov/wasteless

Paper & Cardboard Recycling your clean pizza boxes, junk mail, newspapers, cereal boxes, magazines and other paper has big benefits for the environment. Not only do we avoid cutting down trees, but keeping paper out of landfills helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, keeping our planet cool. If you can rip it you can recycle it, with a few exceptions: soiled paper, waxed/laminated paper, cups, napkins, plates and hardcover books cannot be recycled.

Metal - If you recycle metal cans and clean aluminum foil products youre off to a good start. But many New Yorkers dont realize that other metal items are recyclable too, including old frying pans, irons and anything 50% metal or more. Dont forget the big stuffmetal shelving and metal appliances get picked up on your recycling day too. Be sure to call 311 to schedule Freon removal before putting out old refrigerators and air conditioners.

Glass Recycle bottles and jars only, any color. Dont recycle any other glass, including broken glass, ceramics, windows and mirrors. Remember to rinse your glass and other containers to help keep away pests and avoid having to use harmful pesticides. Not sure about those metal lids? Since theyre made of metal you can recycle themjust place them separately in your recycling bin.

Plastic Many New Yorkers are puzzled when it comes to plastic. With the variety of shapes, colors and plastic products and multitude of numbers stamped on them, how can one sort out whats recyclable? The answer is quite simple, actually: If its a bottle or jug, recycle it. Whats a bottle or jug? If it has a neck that is smaller than the bodyif you would call it a bottle or jug, recycle it. Reduce your use of non-bottle plastics where possible and explore other plastic recycling programs.

Beverage Cartons Gable-top and aseptic containers for O.J. soymilk, and other beverages or liquids, are recyclable in NYC. Can you guess where? If you said they go with glass, metal and plastic you are correct! Though largely constructed of paper, these cartons must be stripped of their waterproof coatings before recycling. They also contain liquid residue that can contaminate the rest of our paper materials.

• Place metal, glass, plastic and beverage cartons in the same clear bag or labeled bin
• Put bulk metal next to your recyclables on recycling day
• Call 311 for CFC removal from refrigerators and air conditioners.

It may feel awkward at first to use your own mug at work or just say no to a plastic bag at the store, but every effort helps. The more people that take positive steps, the more will be encouraged to step up and do the right thing too. Some stores even offer discounts for bringing your own bag or mug! Carry your own tote bag with pride, talk to your neighbors about recycling and dont be afraid to be the first on your block to go green.

FREE RECYCLING EVENTS
visit www.GrowNYC.org/recycling for more info

Saturday, April 18, 11am-4pm

at the Old Stone House in the park at 4^th St and 5^th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Spring cleaning season doesnt have to mean moving the mess from your apartment to the landfill. Simply collect whats reusable and bring it to the Freecycle NYC Spring Cleaning FreeMeet, a live version of the gifting networks online group. Have items too heavy to carry or cant make the event? Visit www.freecycle.org to find new homes for your unwanted stuff.

Saturday, April 25, 12pm-4pm

St. Marys Park , St. Anns Ave between E. 146th and E.148^th Street

The 2^nd Annual South Bronx Earth Fest is a family celebration of the environment and of the South Bronx community. Enjoy free food and entertainment, including the "Music Gets Me Green" song contest, dance performances, free boat rides on the Bronx River, special celebrity guest MC La Bruja, 30 activities booths and more. Bring your old cell phones, computers, printers, fax machines, TVs, VCRs and stereos to be recycled. Shred your confidential documents for recycling and donate gently used clothes for reuse.

Saturday, May 9th , 11am-4pm

Build It Green!NYC, 3-17 26th Ave, Astoria

For the second year in a row, clean out your closet and join us for a GrowNYC Stop N Swap at Build It Green in Astoria. You won't need to bring anything to take something. Just remember a tote bag or cart to get your new treasures home. This years expanded event includes info tables from Recycle-A-Bicycle and Green Shores NYC, a compost workshop from the Queens Compost Project, bike parking courtesy of Transportation Alternatives, live music and a veggie friendly BBQ to cap off a wonderful Saturday afternoon.

Electronics Recycling with the Lower East Side Ecology Center
Recycle old computers, TVs and more at one of these upcoming events. Visit www.lesecologycenter.org for more information.

Jackson Heights, Queens
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 10am-4pm
Travers Park, south side of 78th Street b/t Northern Blvd & 34th Avenue

Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Sunday, April 19, 2009, 10am-4pm
Middletown Road Parking lot, off Stadium Avenue

Central Park West @ 68th St
Sunday, April 26, 10am-4pm

Chelsea
Saturday, May 2, 2009, 10am-4pm
119 W 23rd Street at Tekserve b/t 6 & 7th Avenues

Shred Fest
Sunday, May 3, 10am-4pm
Bring confidential documents to shred and recycle. Locations in all 5 boros! Visit the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs for more info.

Clothing and Textile Recycling
Earth Day is a great time to recycle your unwanted clothing, sheets, towels and more, but GrowNYCs textiles recycling collections are weekly and year round, so dont worry if you forget to bring an outgrown shirt or two. For more information on this program visit www.GrowNYC.org/clothing

* Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, Brooklyn - Saturdays, 8am-4pm
(NW Entrance to Prospect Park)

* Union Square Greenmarket - Mondays & Saturdays, 8am-6pm
(North Plaza)

* Tompkins Square Greenmarket - Sundays, 8am-4pm
(East 7th St. & Ave A)

* 97th Street Greenmarket - Fridays 8am-2pm
( 97th St. & Columbus Ave)

Compost
Spring is a great time to get hooked on composting. Visit www.nyccompost.org to find workshops on backyard and indoor composting and be amazed at how you can reduce your trips to the garbage can by recycling your food scraps.

THE COUNCIL ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF NYC (GrowNYC) is a hands-on non-profit that has been improving New York Citys environment for over thirty years. GrowNYCs dedicated staff green our neighborhoods, create the environmental leaders of the future, reinvigorate New Yorkers understanding of, and participation in, NYCs recycling program, and run the largest farmers market program in the country. For more information: www.GrowNYC.org.

THE OFFICE OF RECYCLING OUTREACH & EDUCATION (OROE) works to improve the Citys recycling rate by educating residents about recycling and waste prevention, and working with landlords to make sure building recycling programs are adequate. Our free services include apartment building recycling audits, trainings for tenants and supers, community events centered on education and special collection programs for textiles, electronics, and compost.