July 2008

Office of Recycling Outreach and Education

A program of GrowNYC

New CFL recycling drop-offs in NYC


Fluorescent bulb recycling just got easier. With the opening of the new Ikea store in Red Hook, Brooklyn and a recent announcement from Home Depot, users of energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) in NYC now have several locations where bulbs can be dropped off for recycling. Visitors to Ikea can recycle CFLs as well as old incandescent bulbs. Home Depot customers can drop off expired, unbroken bulbs at the returns counter at stores nationwide. According to the company, more than 75% of Americans live within 10 miles of a store, creating an easy way to help contain the small amounts of mercury in each bulb. Click here to find the Home Depot near you. NYC Residents can also continue to use the Department of Sanitations Special Waste Drop-Off Sites in each borough.




(!) Learn more about the benefits of using and recycling CFLs, from out this FAQ from the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Do you live in a Recycling Outreach District?

OROEs Recycling Outreach Coordinators are currently working intensively to increase recycling in several communities in each borough. Our grassroots approach includes free services such as recycling audits, super and tenant training sessions, special events and more to help communities set up effective programs, understand the Citys recycling requirements and access additional resources such as textile recycling. If you live in an OROE Recycling Outreach District and we can be of assistance to you and your building, we want to hear from you!

Current Recycling Outreach Districts:

Manhattan:
East Harlem, Central Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and Manhattan Public Housing
Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bed Stuy, Bushwick
Bronx: South Bronx
Queens: Jackson Heights, Astoria, Long Island City, Jamaica
Staten Island: All Community Districts!
To reach your coordinator visit http://www.GrowNYC.org/about/contact#recycling and use the pull-down menu to locate your borough.

New York City Plastic Bag Recycling Law
to Take Effect July 23

The New York City Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling Law, recently passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Bloomberg is set to take effect July 23, 2008. This new law requires certain stores to establish recycling programs for plastic film such as shopping bags and dry cleaning bags. Stores are also required to sell reusable totes and include recycling messaging on disposable bags. The law applies to retail or wholesale establishments selling products and providing plastic carryout bags and with either 5,000 or more square feet of retail space or 5 or more stores located in the City. It should be noted that the New York State Legislature recently passed a similar law, however it increases the size threshold of stores that would be subject to the law from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet and is preemptive legislation that would take effect in 2009 if signed by the Governor. Nevertheless, many stores have already established plastic film recycling centers in preparation for July 23.




For more information on these two laws, see this summary from the Department of Sanitation on NYCWasteLess.

Upcoming Recycling Events


Electronics Recycling Collections
Still holding on to that heavy CRT computer monitor or that old printer? Reclaim your living space and keep the environment clean by recycling them at one of these upcoming collections.


*featured event
Roosevelt Island Community Action Fair
Saturday, July 12, 11am-4pm
Lighthouse Park
Drop off computers, electronics, small appliances and even used clothing and textiles for reuse or recycling. The event will also feature great information and entertainment for kids. Roosevelt Island is accessible by Tramway from 59th Street and 2nd Ave (just swipe your Metrocard!), F Train to Roosevelt Island, Bus from Queensboro Plaza or Car from via the Roosevelt Island Bridge at 36th Street in Long Island City. Sponsored by Goodwill Industries of NY and Northern NJ. For more information call 718-728-5400.
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MANHATTAN COLLECTIONS

Lower East Side

Saturday July 12, 10am-4pm
Sunday July 13, 10am-4pm
Monday July 14, 4pm-7pm
Grand Street between Essex and Norfolk Streets, north side of Grand Street
Sponsored by the Lower East Side Ecology Center

TriBeCa
Saturday July 26, 10am-4pm
Sunday July 27, 10am-4pm
Monday July 28, 4pm-7pm
Warren Street between West and Greenwich Streets, north side of Warren Street
Sponsored by the Lower East Side Ecology Center and Whole Foods

Inwood
Saturday August 16, 10am-4pm
Sunday August 17, 10am-4pm
Monday August 18, 4pm-7pm
Riverside Drive just south of Dyckman Street at the east side of RING Garden Triangle
Sponsored by the Lower East Side Ecology Center and RING Garden

QUEENS COLLECTIONS

Corona
Saturday August 2, 10am-4pm
Sunday August 3, 10am-4pm
Monday August 4, 4pm-7pm
111th Street & 48th Avenue, at the New York Hall of Science
Sponsored by the Lower East Side Ecology Center and The New York Hall of Science

Compost Workshops
Summer is a great time to gain composting skills, both indoors and out. Check out the New York City Compost Project website for a listing of events in all boroughs.

*featured workshops from the Lower East Side Ecology Center

theres a hair in my dirt! story reading and childrens worm composting workshop

Thursday, July 10, 4pm-5pm
Aguilar Branch Public Library, 174 East 110th St

The Lower East Side Ecology Center will host a reading of Gary Larsons informative picture book about the dining habits of worms and show you how to make your own mini worm bin to take home. Find out how red wiggler worms help reduce our waste by eating our garbage and making it into useful fertilizer for plants, and learn about worm anatomy and the process of decomposition. For ages 5 and over. Registration is required.





backyard composting basics

Sunday, August 23, 11am-1pm
Unity Community Garden, 53-55 West 128th Street
Join the Manhattan Compost Project for an introductory workshop covering all you need to know to start composting in your garden or backyard right now! Explore the science of decomposition, set-up options, compost application, and troubleshooting. Composting issues specific to NYC will also be addressed. Outdoor compost bins will be available for purchase at the subsidized price of $20. Registration is required.

 

 

Every year, GrowNYC holds our Annual Spring Plant Sale in order to provide community groups with affordable perennial and annual flowering plants, herbs, ground covers, and vegetables grown by Greenmarket farmers and sold in wholesale quantities.