Recycle Electronics & Clothing, Get Free Compost
BY JOHN J. DOHERTY, COMMISSIONER OF SANITATION

It's time for spring cleaning and most New Yorkers have too much stuff and not enough space. Compounding this problem is we own a lot of stuff we no longer need.

Even dedicated hoarders must agree that their old, unused laptops (or desktop computers) don't serve any useful purpose- other than collecting dust. Saving old magazines and newspapers because they contain useful articles is a waste of much needed space since we can turn to the Internet for the latest information.

In our consumer-oriented society, the useful life of electronics and clothing keeps getting shorter and shorter, and the need to dispose of them correctly becomes even more impossible. And, although storage is always a solution wouldn't it be more practical, not to mention cost-effective, to get rid of whatever we no longer use.

Discarding lightly worn clothing is clearly a waste, and donating it makes much more sense.

Discarding last year's cellular phone, or unwanted, outdated computers is more complex. The fact is that electronics, although perfectly safe for us to use, contain hazardous materials that, when discarded, could be released into the environment, and whether they work, or not, electronics should be recycled.

The Sanitation Department, with the assistance of the Lower East Side Ecology Center, Goodwill Industries and Con Edison, is sponsoring its "Spring 2007 Electronics Recycling and Clothing Donation Events" at facilities that will accept lightly worn clothing and linens, as well as unwanted or broken electronics (limit five pieces per person, please) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

A bonus for city residents is free compost, an organic fertilizer and conditioning soil, for their gardens and plants. Only vehicles registered to New York City addresses can pick up free compost- no commercial vehicles will be allowed.

Think Green, Recycle!

Spring 2007- Electronics Recycling &

Clothing Donation Events May 12, 13, 19, 20 Brooklyn-Queens Spring Creek Composting Facility, 12720 Flatlands Ave. For more information, call 311 or go to www.nyc.gov/sanitation