The Avenue is kicking it off on September 5th with a “Back to School Celebration”!  Stop by for a day of fun & games before heading back to hit the books or for a last summer hurrah! The first Sunday is jam-packed with free activities, music & merchant specials with more every week.  Some activities for the whole family include:

• Facepainting, street games, hula hoops & chalking
• Cooking demos & tastings
• Yoga & dance classes on the street
• Live mural making
• Dance party with Soul Summit

For a block-by-block summary of activities for September 5th check out Myrtle Avenue’s website & Green in BKLYN’s blog. 

In addition, there’s a new contest this year on the Avenue.  A lucky winner will be selected each week to receive $100 in Myrtle Avenue gift certificates! You can pick up your Explore Myrtle Avenue game cards at every Sunday event (at MARP’s table between Washington & Hall) & enter for your chance to win a Myrtle shopping spree later in the fall!

Here’s a teaser about what’s in store for upcoming weeks:

• E-Waste Recycling on 9/12 (at Green in BKLYN)
• “Wii and Thee” demos with dancers from Chase Brock Experience also on 9/12
• Brooklyn Food Coalition’s Good Food Fest on 9/12
• Book Drive for Our Community Center (at Green in BKLYN) on 9/19
• “The Case of the Curious Pedestrian” brings tons of playful public art projects & performances to the avenue on 9/19
• BAMcafe’ brings featured artists on 9/19 & 9/26
• Local Honey is Extracted from Hives (on bees) at Green in BKLYN on 9/19
• Our first ever bike/scooter/big wheel parade from Hall to Clermont kicks off 9/26 with lots of bike-themed programs throughout the day!

What (you may ask) is Move About Myrtle?

Every Sunday in September, Myrtle Avenue (between Hall & Claremont) becomes a pedestrian-friendly public space for dance, music, food, art & much more.  There will be kids’ activities & games, sidewalk cafes, yoga classes, performances, cooking demos & a daily raffle to win $100 gift certificates.

Here at Green in BKLYN, we’ve also got an amazing schedule of events with:

• Brooklyn authors signing books
• Composting experts answering questions
• Bags being made from umbrellas
• Local honey being extracted from local hives
• An international dog artist making art
• And electronic waste being collected (& safely disposed of)

Plus, we’ll be collecting books for our local community center & broken umbrellas for making into bags.

Be sure to mark your calendar.  September’s gonna rock the ‘hood!  Here’s the schedule to prove it…

Sunday, September 5th

• 12-2: Himane Designer Makes Bags from Broken Umbrellas
• 2-4: Vokashi Reps Answer Composting Questions & Talk About Embokashi Composting
• 4:30-6: Pierre Thiam Signs Yolele! Recipes from the Heart of Senegal
• All Day: Drop Off Broken Umbrellas for Himane’s Umbrellas to Bags Program

Sunday, September 12th

• 12-2: Tillamook Cheddar, Renowned Dog Artist, Makes Art & Meets the Public
• 2-4: Vokashi Reps Answer More Composting Questions
• 4-6: Kate Hanley, Author of The Anywhere, Anytime Chill Guide: 77 Simple Strategies for Serenity, Leads a Lollipop Meditation
• All Day: Drop Off Electronic Waste for Recycling by the Mac Support Store

Sunday, September 19th

• 12-6: Ranjit Bhatnagar‘s Installation Tweets Beautiful Birdy Tunes
• 12-2: Vokashi Reps Answer Some More Composting Questions
• 2-4: Honey is Extracted & Labels are Made with the Three Sisters Honey Family
• 4-6: Thomas Chatterton Williams Signs Losing My Cool: How A Father’s Love & 15, 000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture
• All Day: Drop Off Books for Donation to the Ingersoll Cornerstone Community Center Library

Sunday, September 26th

• 12-2: Pangea Organics Beauty Advisor Talks Gorgeous & Gives Away Samples
• 2-4: Vokashi Reps Answer Even More Composting Questions
• 4-6: Cathy Erway Signs The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending & Love the Stove

• All Day: The Big Bike Thing Returns with Magnificent Mia (2 seats, 2 drivers, 9′ tires, all fun)

There are a number of e-waste recycling events happening this summer so now’s a great time to get rid of all that e-clutter you’ve accumulated.

Sponsored by The Lower East Side Ecology Center, the events will recycle electronic waste (“e-waste”) from New York City residents so bring your unwanted or broken electronics to the collection events to have them recycled responsibly.

E-WASTE SUMMER RECYCLING DAYS

• July 10: 10am-4pm @ Tekserve - 119 W 23rd St NYC 10011

• July 17: 10am - 4pm @ RING Garden – Riverside Dr (btw Seaman Ave & Bway) NYC 10034

• July 18: 10am-4pm @ Stuyvesant Town- 14th St Loop (enter at 14th St & Ave A) NYC 10009

• July 24 & 25: 10am-4pm @ Essex Street – East Side (btw. Hester & Grand St.) NYC 10002

• July 31: 10am-4pm @ Smith St (btw President & Union St) Brooklyn 11231

They accept the following working & broken items:

• Computers (laptops & desktops, servers, mainframes)

• Monitors

• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, copiers

• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)

• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, etc.)

• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.)

• TVs, VCRs, & DVD Players

• Audio-visual equipment

• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs

• Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.)
  

NOTE: LESEC does not accept home appliances (such as microwaves or refrigerators) & cannot accept any electronics from businesses.

Tekserve has teamed up again with the Lower East Side Ecology Center to offer free electronics recycling on Saturday, July 10th from 10am-4pm.

Recyclable items include computers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, DVD or VCR players, radios, telephones, cell phones, televisions, cameras, & stereo equipment.

Unfortunately, they cannot accept home appliances such as microwaves, stoves, refrigerators & air conditioners.  Or bulk drop offs from businesses.

• EVENT: eWaste Recycling Event
• DATE: Saturday, July 10th
• TIME: 10am-4pm
• LOCATION: Tekserve @ 119 W. 23rd St. (btw. 6 & 7 Ave.)

To celebrate the event, anyone bringing electronics to be recycled can register at Tekserve for a raffle to win a new Mac mini.  All participants in the event will also receive a coupon for a $25 discount on any new current-model Mac or iPod (except Shuffle).

For more info visit tekserve.com/recycling.

WHY RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS?

The components in many electronics can be incredibly hazardous to the environment – contributing up to 70% of the toxins found in landfills – so it’s important that they’re properly recycled.  Sponsored collection events are one of the easiest ways to properly dispose of your old gadgets in NYC.

A perfect time to Spring clean & finally get rid of all that electronic waste that’s been cluttering up the entry to your apartment, the feng shui in your home, the mobility in your pad.  Reduce, reuse, recycle & get that junk out of the way…

• What: A Free Electronics Recycling Day
• Date: Saturday, May 8th 2010
• Time: 12-3PM
• Location: PS 107 @ 1301 8th Avenue, Brooklyn 11215
• To Be Recycled: Electronic Equipment (see below)

Electronic equipment that will be accepted includes broken or unwanted computers, monitors, keyboards, PDAs, mouses, cellphones, printers, dvd and cd players, routers, remote controls, stereos, cables).  However, it does NOT include household appliances like TVs, microwave ovens, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc., which will not be accepted.

Sponsored by the Mac Support Store in Brooklyn.  Thanks, folks!

PS – They’re also having a great raffle: Enter the $1 raffle & win a new Apple Mighty Mouse or Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard,” courtesy of The Mac Support Store, Brooklyn’s First Authorized Repair Shop!

At Green in BKLYN, we collect & recycle #5 plastics, cell phones & batteries (

In addition, our blogs include lots of recycling info (just type “recycle” or “recycling” in our Find! area for all kinds of info).

And we share info on e-waste recycling events, whenever possible…

This month, in celebration of Earth Day (4/22) there’s been a veritable smorgasbord of e-waste recycling options.  There’s still one more scheduled this month, here in Brooklyn, Courtesy of the Lower East Side Ecology Center.  Just in case you’re still looking to move those old computer screens, telephones & what not out of the corner of your home…

The Ecology Center is holding seven electronic waste (“e-waste”) collections to responsibly recycle unwanted or broken electronics from New York City residents (no business waste).  All you have to do is bring your e-waste to the collection event – rain or shine!

For a list of acceptable materials, click here.  Just remember, no home appliances such as microwaves or refrigerators.

The last one scheduled this month is in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn at PS 29 School Yard (Baltic St btw Henry & Clinton St) on Sunday, April 25, 10am-4pm.

Reduce, reuse, recycle y’all!

At Green in BKLYN, we collect & recycle #5 plastics, cell phones & batteries (

In addition, our blogs include lots of recycling info (just type “recycle” or “recycling” in our Search area for all kinds of info).

And we share info on e-waste recycling events, whenever possible…

This month, in celebration of Earth Day (4/22) there’s a veritable smorgasbord of e-waste recycling options.  Courtesy of the Lower East Side Ecology Center, we offer “The List”.  Reduce, reuse, recycle y’all!

The Ecology Center is holding seven electronic waste (“e-waste”) collections to responsibly recycle unwanted or broken electronics from New York City residents (no business waste).  All you have to do is bring your e-waste to the collection event – rain or shine!

For a list of acceptable materials, click here.  Just remember, no home appliances such as microwaves or refrigerators.

LOCATIONS & DATES:
Union Square (Union Sq. Park North Plaza btw 17th St & Bway)
Sunday, March 28, 10am-4pm

Roosevelt Island (Good Sheperd Plaza @ 543 Main St)
Saturday, April 03, 10am-4pm

Midtown Manhattan (Tekserve – 119 W 23rd St btw 6 & 7 Ave)
Saturday, April 10, 10am-4pm

Jackson Heights, Queens (Travers Park – 78th St btw N Blvd & 34th Ave)
Sunday, April 11, 10am-4pm

Fort Greene, Brooklyn (Habana Outpost – South Portland Ave & Fulton St)
Saturday, April 17, 10am-4pm

West Harlem (Morningside Park – Morningside Ave btw 113th & 114th St)
Sunday, April 18, 10am-4pm

Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (PS 29 School Yard – Baltic St btw Henry & Clinton St)
Sunday, April 25, 10am-4pm

But, one of my favorite resources, the Council on the Environment of New York City, has even more recycling info on their site.  Below is their condensed version…  I suggest you visit their site & sign up for all kinds of great environmental info!  Enjoy & happy recycling…

NYC has an extensive recycling program, and there are many ways to recycle additional materials. Here are just a few resources. Check out www.NYC.gov/nycwasteless for a comprehensive collection of recycling information and resources.

Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are prohibited from household garbage and can be recycled at stores that sell batteries of that type. For more info on this law, visit www.nyc.gov/nycwasteless or call 311. Select Greenmarkets have collection bins for cell phones and rechargeable batteries or you can visit www.RBRC.org to get a bin for your building.

Single-use alkaline batteries can be recycled at Interstate Batteries on Berrian Blvd in Astoria and at the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Special Waste Drop-Off Site in your borough. (Note: Whole Foods and 3RLiving have suspended their in-store battery collections).

For more information on disposing of batteries in NYC visit NYCWasteLe$$.

Business Recycling

All businesses must recycle in NYC. Visit the NYCWasteLe$$ page dedicated to businesses, which provides tips and resources for setting up a recycling program. Looking to get rid of reusable items without loading up a landfill, or trying to save money by acquiring used goods? Check out NY WasteMatch – a free match-making service for used and surplus goods. This commercial materials exchange helps businesses save money on purchases and/or disposal, while also helping the environment.

Bicycles

Tired of your old bicycle? Donate it to Recycle a Bicycle or Time’s UP! and make someone’s day!

Building Materials

Save money on renovations by buying from and donating to NYC’s building materials reuse centers, Build It Green! and Rebuilders Source. Visit their websites to view their inventories of cabinets, doors, appliances, paint and more.

Cell Phones

Any store that sells cell phones in New York State has to take them back. You can also recycle your old phone for a cause through Collective Good, which will refurbish it for reuse if possible.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) save energy and last much longer, but still require disposal eventually. These items, which contain trace amounts of mercury, are permissible in household garbage but can be recycled at several sites in the City. Get more info on light bulb recycling and CENYC’s CFL recycling pilot program at www.cenyc.org/CFL.

Compost

Why let your food scraps go to waste? Many NYC community gardens offer composting to turn your coffee grounds, vegetable trimmings and other organic waste into “black gold” to fertilize flowers, vegetables and trees. Find out where at www.nyccompost.org or drop it off at the Union Square Greenmarket with the Lower East Side Ecology Center or at the Ft. Greene Greenmarket for composting at local community gardens. Check out the Manhattan Compost Map from Green Map for more local compost resources.

Clothing & Textiles

Materials such as old clothing and linens represent 6% of NYC’s waste but are 100% recyclable at our weekly Greenmarket textile recycling collections: Fridays at 97thSt. (8a-2p); Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn (8a-4p), Ft Greene (8a-3p), McCarren Park (8a-2p), Inwood (8a-3p); Sundays at Tompkins Sq. (8a-2p) and Jackson Hts (8a-3p)JUL-NOV only; and Mondays & Saturdays at Union Square (8a-6p). Items in wearable condition can also find a new home through Freecycle™ New York City or local charities. Contact Wearable Collections for information on setting up a collection in your very own apartment building!

Computers & Electronics

Although they are a small portion of the waste stream by volume, computers and electronics contribute about 70% of the toxicity to landfills. There are many recycling opportunities for these items. Find upcoming collection days on our Recycling Events page, visit Take It Back NYC for info on manufacturer recycling or click here for info on free computer recycling at local Goodwill stores.

Food

Food that is still edible need not go to waste. Find a soup kitchen or food pantry near you with this handy interactive map from the NYC Coalition Against Hunger. Large volumes of canned food can be donated through the Food Bank for NYC. Contact City Harvest for information on donating large amounts of fresh, perishable and prepared foods.

Furniture

Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, Housing Works, Everything Goes, Furnish-a-Future and other non-profit organizations provide good homes for old furniture. You can also look for takers through Craigslist.org and Freecycle.org

Ink Cartridges

Refilling ink cartridges reduces the amount of plastic that goes into the landfill. See Fine Star Imaging, Cartridge World, and Staples. Prepaid return labels or envelopes are available on all brands of toner and ink cartridges so you can return them for free recycling.

Junk Mail

Take your name off of mass mailing lists with the Direct Mail Marketing Association and reduce catalog waste with Catalog Choice. Opt out of offers for credit cards and insurance through the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry. Stop unsolicited telephone books with the new Yellow Pages Opt Out.

Plastic Bags & Plastic Film

They make up 7.5% of our waste, and they never degrade. The key is to reduce your use of plastic bags. If you need to recycle your “stash” you can do so at many stores around the city, thanks to a recent local law that requires recycling of plastic film such as shopping bags, dry cleaning bags and newspaper bags.

Tubs, Cups & Other Plastics

Though not collected for recycling by the city, plastic tubs such as margarine and yogurt cups can be recycled at the Park Slope Food Coop. Bring #5 containers and Brita pitcher filters to most Whole Foods locations, mail to Preserve Gimme 5, 823 NYS Rte 13, Cortland, NY 13045. Click here to find drop-off sites in NYC.  NOTE: You can drop them off at Green in BKLYN, too!

Shoe Repair & Recycling

Don’t throw them out, resole them. An artifact of the past in many cities; the shoe repair business in New York City is thriving. These shops offer great value by extending the life of good shoes. If your running shoes are worn completely, you can recycle them through the Reuse-a-Shoe program, which makes them into athletic surfaces. You can drop off any brand of rubber-soled shoes at Niketown, 6 East 57th Street (212.891.6453) or mail them to the Nike Recycling Center, c/o Reuse-A-Shoe, 26755 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, OR 97070.

Swaps & Exchanges

Items that are no longer useful to you can still be helpful to others. Try catch-all resources like Craigslist.org or Freecycle.org or search NYC Stuff Exchange for a wide array of reuse options. And don’t miss CENYC’s Stop N’ Swaps!

Technotrash

Recycle CDs, floppy disks, VHS tapes, etc. by purchasing a Technotrash bin from Green Disk.

Bring computers, monitors, fax machines, printers & copiers, CD/DVD/VCR players, stereo equipment, radios, televisions, cell phones, cameras & other unwanted electronics to Tekserve on Saturday, January 16th (10am-4pm) to be safely recycled.  TekServe is located at 119 West 23rd Street (near 6th Avenue).

Anyone bringing electronics to be recycled can enter for a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air.  Plus, all participants in the event will receive a $25 coupon, good towards any Mac or iPod (excluding iPod shuffle) from Tekserve until February 15th, 2010.

Sponsored collection events like these are one of the easiest ways for you to properly dispose of old electronic gear & gadgets, which contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium & mercury.  You know you wanna get that stuff out of the house.  Happy New Year – it’s easy!

Note: The following items will not be collected at this drive… home appliances, microwaves, stoves, refrigerators & air conditioners.

We’ve written a number of things about reducing our footprints, recycling in general & America Recycles Day.  Today, the day before America Recycles Day, we will leave the words to our President.  And so, without further ado, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama…

Presidential Proclamation – America Recycles Day

“Every day, Americans who recycle conserve valuable resources while reducing our Nation’s carbon footprint. The reprocessing of materials is fundamental to our future prosperity, as recycling helps preserve our natural environment and sustain our economy. Recycling in the United States is a $236 billion industry, employing 1.1 million workers nationwide in 56,000 businesses. On America Recycles Day, we celebrate the individuals, communities, local governments, and businesses that recycle their waste and continually think of innovative ways to use materials that might otherwise be discarded.

Recycling improves our daily lives and helps to protect our planet for the future. Through recycling, we conserve energy, consume less of our precious natural resources, decrease the amount of waste deposited in landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Communities across America also benefit by avoiding the pollution associated with the extraction of raw materials and their processing into finished products.

If we are to manage materials and products on a life-cycle basis, we must responsibly use and reuse our resources. Curbside recycling, electronics collection drives, community composting programs, and other similar methods contribute to the success of our efforts. Our Nation’s health and prosperity depends on the productive and sustainable use of our environment. By recommitting ourselves to recycling, we have the opportunity to secure our long-term success and ensure a bright future for the next generation of Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2009, as America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities, and I encourage all Americans to continue their recycling efforts throughout the year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

- BARACK OBAMA