Despite increasing environmental awareness, New Yorkers continue to toss many recyclables in the trash--a challenge we address daily at GrowNYC.
Want to know how you can help NYC on the path to Zero Waste? In some cases it's as easy as making sure to recycle the right materials, and in other cases it means a few extra steps to a swap, Greenmarket, or recycling collection to keep good (and bad) stuff out of the landfill.
Read on for resources and upcoming events to see how you can do your part for a more sustainable NYC.
Resources to Raise Recycling Rates More than half of what New Yorkers should recycle ends up in the trash instead, according to the 2013 NYC Waste Characterization Study recently released by the NYC Department of Sanitation.
The good news? With the city's efforts to go Zero Waste by 2030, citizens have resources to recycle 1/3 of their waste at the curb, compost about 1/3 of their waste through organics collections, and easily donate or reduce another 1/10 through collections for textiles, clothing, e-waste, plastic bags, and harmful household products. Learn more at nyc.gov/zerowaste.
Greenmarket Food Scrap & Clothing Collections:
Big Numbers, A Few Changes First, the big news: food scrap collections at Greenmarkets topped the 7 million pound mark last month! We are amazed and impressed at New Yorkers' dedication to saving, storing, and transporting their food scraps to market to be saved from landfills and used for local green spaces.
Now, a few changes to collection schedules for select clothing & food scrap sites:
MCCARREN PARK: Clothing & Food Scrap Collections now also on Tuesdays!
CARROLL GARDENS: Clothing Collection now ends at 3pm
CORTELYOU: Clothing Collection now ends at 2pm
Coming Soon: Project Farmhouse! Construction has officially begun at GrowNYC's new center for sustainability and education: Project Farmhouse. NYC has the International Center for Photography, the Horticultural Society, a Costume Institute but NO environmental center - until now.
Located in Union Square and opening in fall 2016, Project Farmhouse will be a place to explore environmental issues through the lens of food, horticulture, arts, recycling, cooking, and more. Make a donation today to help open the doors to Project Farmhouse.
Upcoming Events East Williamsburg Clothing Swap Saturday, August 7, 12pm-3pm Moore Street Market (map) 110 Moore Street, b/t Humboldt St & Graham Ave
Bring clean, reusable, clothes to share and find an outfit new to you! You don't have to bring something to take something. Clothing, shoes, belts, hats, and accessories only, please! Learn more.
NYC SAFE Disposal Events Safely dispose of electronics and other potentially harmful household products like batteries, paint, pesticides and medicine. Only NYC residential waste will be accepted (no business or institutional waste permitted).
Learn more at www.nyc.gov/safedisposal.
Saturday, August 13 - Bronx 10am-4pm, Fordham University Parking Lot, Southern Blvd Cars approach from Bedford Park Blvd
Saturday, August 27 - Brooklyn 10am-4pm, Floyd Bennett Field Flatbush Ave/Marine Pkwy Electronics & Textile Collections - West Harlem
Saturday, August 20, 10am-4pm LaSalle St at Broadway, Manhattan Responsibly recycle unwanted or broken computers, fax machines, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cell phones, and more with the Lower East Side Ecology Center (NO microwaves, refrigerators, air conditioners, smoke detectors).
Wearable Collections will accept clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, linens and other reusable textiles (NO scraps, rugs, carpeting, pillows, comforters, or luggage). Sponsored by Morningside Hts./W.Harlem Sanitation Coalition.
SI Greenmarkets Book Swap Saturday, August 20, 10am-1pm
SI Mall: Marsh Ave & Ring Road, commuter lot
St. George: St. Marks & Hyatt St. Bring books in good condition to your Staten Island neighborhood Greenmarket.
Take all the books you can carry, for free! You don't have to bring books to take books.
Learn more. GrowNYC's zero waste programs funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation aim to improve the City's 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 clothing and food scraps.
For more information visit www.grownyc.org or call 212-788-7964
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