Recycling Events in NYC for a Clean Start to 2011

New years are opportunities for good intentions to be put into action. If you live in NYC there's a lot of ways to responsibly recycle unwanted stuff and begin the new year with a clean slate. Here are a few ideas:

CHIP IN: Instead of landfilling your Christmas tree, recycle it at MulchFest this weekend at 70 parks throughout the city. The wood chips created at MulchFest are used to feed trees and plants in parks and on the street. You can even take a bag of chips home for your yard or street tree. In case your tree is already crispy, you can even drop it off early. Last year 24,000 trees were recycled. Check the MulchFest website for more info about how it works and where to drop your tree.

Image courtesy of art_es_anna via flickr

E-CYCLE
This month the Lower East Side Ecology Center is collecting E-Waste for recycling. Their goal is to collect 100 tons! So bring your aged, busted electronics (list of acceptable items) to any number of pick-up sites every weekend in January between 10am-4pm. Electronic waste is full of highly toxic materials that can contribute to air and water pollution if it's not recycled properly. If that's not enough incentive to drag your e-junk to a collection location, all recyclers are entered into a Tekserv raffle to win an MacBook Air and Zipcar members can earn a driving credit. Among the collection spots are Prospect Park (1/16), Habana Outpost (1/22), Bowling Green Park (1/8), Tekserv (1/15), and the Queens Botanical Garden (1/9). For a full listing of e-waste collection days and locations, check out the calendar.
 

CLOSET PURGE
Also, don't forget that GrowNYC collects textiles for recycling at eight Greenmarkets throughout the year. Help them reach their 1 million pound goal this year by bringing your unwanted clothes, paired shoes, bags, and household linens. Usable items are sorted out and sold, while unusable pieces are sold to companies that will reuse them in new products like insulation or cushions.