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Recycle - Re-use - Reduce or Dispose - Are You Guilty??

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956

recycle symbolDo you recylce, re-use or reduce waste or do you just discard it?  We're living in a disposable generation - where everyone is quick to discard stuff.  The long term effect on our environment is devastating.  If each of us in some small way would do our part to recycle, the positive long range effect on the greening of our environment would be immense.

Here are some simple ways to make a difference.

  • Recycle or Trade-in Electronics - Did you know that Costco has a trade-in and recycle program. Trade-in electronic gadgets (such as laptops, cell phones, LCD monitors, digital cameras, MP3 players, gaming systems & more) for Costco Cash that can be used for anything in Costco stores or online at Costco.com.  Check it out here.
  • Donate Used Clothing, Furniture, Toys and Kitchen Items - Most communities have bins located in different areas around the neighborhood to drop off used clothes which then get distributed to the needy.  Use them!  Check with the local churches, synagogues, police or Salvation Army branches for collection sites.  If there is a second hand store in town, donate your gently used things and get a tax write-off at the same time.
  • Reuse Plastic Bags.  Bring them with you to the supermarket to reuse, or better yet, use recyclable shopping bags or the kind that are bio-degradable.
  • Reuse Plastic containers.  They make great storage containers for leftovers or for storing small items like nails, picture hangers and even small toy pieces.
  • Use Sharp Containers - Most areas have drop off sites for needles, syringes and lancets.  Anyone who usese these items regularly can usually participate in a collection program  You can call you local health care provider, pharmacy or clinic to find local hospitals or nursing homes that accept properly contained sharps for disposal.  You can find out what you local laws are by checkDisposal lreauirements vary by state and location.  You can find out what your local safe needle disposal laws are here. 
  • Sponsor a community "Stuff" Sale -Get your neighbors to join you and collect all your new or gently used items that you'd like to part with and either make a trade or sale.  One persons junk is another's treasure.  It's a great way to bond with your neighbors and get  rid of your clutter.

Recycle - It's easy

Flikr Photos - Symbol by thetruthabout, It's Easy by chrissatchwell

 

Posted by

Lora "Leah" Stern - Your Rockland County, NY REALTOR of Choice - (914) 772-4528

Your Rockland County, NY Real Estate SpecialistLeah Stern Signature Photo

Lora "Leah" Stern
Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
(914) 772-4528 CELL
(845) 634-0400 OFFICE
(862) 345-2463 FAX

If I can assist you in any way with your real estate needs in Suffern, NY Rockland County or the surrounding areas, please feel free to contact me by phone at (914) 772-4528, email me at Leah.Stern@cbmoves.com or visit my website .

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Dan Haggerty
RE/MAX RESULTS - Orlando, FL

We Recycle Lora, but why do they pick up so early in the morning. can you change the time???

Dec 07, 2009 04:58 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

We recycle everything we can in our household, but sometimes it's difficult because the recycling centers don't take something, like plastic gallon milk jugs.

Dec 07, 2009 10:20 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Dan - What a bummer! - Try putting your recycleables out the night before.

Jim - Kudos to you for your efforts.  Keep up the good work.

Dec 07, 2009 01:42 PM
Kryste Adams
RE/MAX Key Properties - Luxury Homes, Golf Course Homes - Bend, OR
Bend, Oregon Real Estate


Great post.  We too try to recycle as much as possible...even the kids are involved...they're learning about recycling at preschool.  I've even been told a few times I'm wasting water.

Dec 08, 2009 02:23 AM
Cheri Smith
Prudential Gary Greene, Cypress TX - Cypress, TX
Realtor Prudential Gary Greene

good suggestions. I love re-purposing. I'm ok with recycling but I'm trying to get better at it. We don't have curb recycling here. It's easier now that the schools have put in recycling "dumpsters" at the school.

Dec 08, 2009 11:58 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Kryste - Isn't great that the kids grow up being aware of it.  It makes conserving second nature.

Cheri - Curb recycling definitely does alot towards making the whole process a more automatic affair.  But recycling dumpsters sounds like the next  best idea.

Dec 09, 2009 01:20 PM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

And now that it's snowing and cold outside, don't forget to recycle your old winter coats that you no longer wear to those who need to be warm! ^_^

Dec 09, 2009 02:40 PM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Great Post Laura, We have been conditioned for so long to throw away product before it is finished... we waste so much this way.

Dec 10, 2009 02:51 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Great Post Laura, We have been conditioned for so long to throw away product before it is finished... we waste so much this way.

Dec 10, 2009 02:51 AM
DEBORAH STONE
Balboa Real Estate San Diego, CA - San Diego, CA

Laura-

I grew up in New England where NOTHING is EVER discarded. When I moved to So Cal I was amazed at what people threw out at yard sales...things with price tags still on them, and perfectly good items that may have been used once or twice. Wastefulness, in my family, was sinful. So recycling was easy to do. I hear so many complaints of people thinking it is their RIGHT to fill up the landfill with their stuff. The "entitlement" mentality of some folks is not something I can understand. Aren't we all in this together?

Dec 10, 2009 09:09 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Maria - What a great idea.  Our local board has a drive to collect winter gear for those in need - coats, hats, scarves.

Chris - Too many of us grew up with the "disposable generation" mentality and have alot of retraining to do.  Hopefully, we'll do a better job making the next generation more environmentally conscious.

Deborah - I too grew up in a family where wastefulness is sinful.  We either found another use for things we ourselves didn't need  or found someone else that could use it.  And yes, we all are in this toether.

 

 

Dec 10, 2009 11:18 AM
Mark Hall
Realty One Group Cascadia - Vancouver, WA
Homes for Sale Vancouver Washington

I have become very sensitive to this exact thing. I am constantly "patrolling" our trash can for recycleable things that the kids have disposed of. They are learning!

Dec 11, 2009 02:11 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Mark - it takes awhile, but eventually it does become second nature.  Keep up the good work.

Dec 12, 2009 02:49 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

The recycling in L.A. is haphazard to put it mildly.  In the U.K. it is the other extreme.  You have to separate everything and heaven forbid you put the wrong thing in the wrong box.  Good advice, Leah.

Dec 12, 2009 04:15 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Jane, New York probably falls someplace inbetween.  Do it often enough and it becomes a habit - a good one!

Dec 13, 2009 10:33 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Lora, When we lived in North Carolina they had an assume recycling program.  It is harder here as it is not available.  Now I do recycle my electronics and used clothing, furniture etc.

Dec 13, 2009 01:27 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Leah can you imagine if everyone recycled, this could make such a big difference to the enviroment and to our mindset.

Dec 13, 2009 09:11 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Marchel - Great that you continue to recycle.  What's an assume recycling program?

Jennifer - Sure would!  It's just a matter of conditioning.

Dec 14, 2009 12:57 AM
Rick Wellington
Fonville Morisey - Raleigh, NC

Our office will run an annual electronics recycling for our clients. We will have a week where we encourage our clients to drop off their used computers and monitors and we take a big load to the recycling center. It has been a big hit and it is really appreciated. It is not the difficult if you have a pick up truck.

Jan 10, 2010 01:06 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Rick - What a great idea.  As long as there's someone with access to a pick-up this is an easy one!

Jan 10, 2010 07:59 AM