Winter is here and depending on the groundhog that you listen to, may be here for a little while longer. Either way, it’s best to go through the remainder of Winter being safe and sustainable!
When ice and snow take over, moving around can be difficult. (Look at what happened to our friend the bear up there!) Salt is a great option for melting ice and snow. However, it is harmful to the environment as well as pets. For pets, salt left on surfaces can lead to cracking on their paws. The ice-salt mix will eventually melt and drain into groundwater and streams which is harmful to aquatic life. In addition, salt eats into concrete and stone surfaces and even can harm vegetation including lawns and gardens.
The holiday season is upon us! It’s a busy time filled with shopping, decorating, cooking, parties, cleanup and much more. This season, keep Mother Earth in mind during your preparations and celebrations.
It’s shop til you drop time! Whether you are shopping for presents or groceries, be sure to utilize ecofriendly practices. The convenience of online shopping has made it more popular than ever with 79% of Americans shopping online. Cardboard shopping boxes are recyclable (high value recyclables!) and should be left curbside, separate from regular recyclables. While local governments pay for the recycling of materials such as bottles, cans and plastics, the sale of cardboard materials to recyclers results in funding to offset recycling costs. Please be sure to remove any packing materials that are included in the shipments to protect the contents. Remember to break down the cardboard boxes to save space and keep them from blowing around in case of wind. A helpful hint is to remove mailing labels from boxes to help protect against identity theft. Finally, you can leave packing tape on boxes, they do not interfere with the recycling process.
For those shopping in stores, remember to bring your reusable shopping bag with you. These bags also make a smart and ecologically safe option to package gifts in and can be reused! Remember that plastic shopping bags are an environmental nightmare. Discarded plastic bags can end up in waterways and are deadly to birds and marine life. Stores across Hudson County have plastic bag recycling bins. Find the location nearest you!
Over 40 years ago, recycling became a global phenomenon - numerous products including plastics, aluminum, cardboard and paper being re-purposed rather than seeing a final life in a landfill. Recognizing the monetary value of recyclables, the recycling industry became an economic driver in China with freighters crossing the Pacific Ocean carrying half of the planet’s scrap paper and plastics.
Read more: The Recycling Crisis: How It All Started & How To Help
With Fall upon us and Winter on the horizon, it is a good time to tidy up before the colder weather seats in. As a part of our service to Hudson County residents, the Hudson County Improvement Authority will be hosting Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days at locations across the County to allow residents with the opportunity to dispose of a number of hazardous household items. Through a sponsorship in part by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste and the HCIA, this program is free of charge to Hudson County residents (proof of residency is required).
Accepted items include:
- Antifreeze
- Cleaners & Corrosives
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
- Fire Extinguishers
- Formaldehyde
- Oil Based Paints & Varnishes
- Old Gasoline
- Pesticides & Herbicides
- Pool & Photographic Chemicals
- Propane Tanks (from Barbecue Grills Only!)
- Rechargeable & Car Batteries
- Smoke Detectors- NOW ACCEPTED!
- Solvents & Thinners
- Thermostats
- Tires
- Used Motor Oil
Read more: Keep Your Home Safe with HCIA’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days!
Plastics are everywhere. From shopping bags to computer parts to water bottles and sunglasses, plastics are a big part of our every day life. While they provide tremendous benefits, are inexpensive, lightweight and durable, plastics also cause some unfortunate impacts on the environment.
While there are countless products made of plastic, there are seven different of types of plastic recyclables. Here in Hudson County, only Recyclable Types 1 & 2 are to be recycled. How do you determine which is which? Look for the “Recycle Triangle” typically located on the bottom of plastic materials.
