Upcycling: A True Environmental Investment

If you’ve spent much time on our website (or hanging around our blog), you probably know that we’re huge fans of sustainable living. As a waste management company, we have a big responsibility—to reduce the waste stream and help companies build green by recycling and upcycling as much as we can.

Not familiar with the term upcycle? Think of it as “repurposing” your junk. So…instead of your glass water bottle being melted down and formed into a new water bottle—you paint your glass bottle and call it a bud vase.

At Cardella, we’ve taken upcycling to a new level. Partnering with Scrapile, a NYC company, we pass along wood leftovers from construction sites. Then Carlos and Bart, Scrapile’s resident artists, upcycle the discarded wood scraps to create innovative bench, table and accessory designs. Browse their website and you’ll find that their pieces are better than any furniture available at the retail store!

We’re proud of our collaborative upcycling efforts. If you’re interested in becoming part of the green revolution, tune in to next week’s blog for tips about how to salvage your household junk through creative upcycling.

Cardella is Going Green

If your facility uses fluorescent bulbs to light workspaces, retail environments and warehouses, you know that they can be difficult to throw away. Fluorescents are made with mercury, an element associated with neurological problems in both adults and children. These bulbs are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and cannot be thrown in solid waste containers or sent to landfills. When bulbs are broken, mercury vapor is released into the air, increasing the chances of environmental pollution and mercury-related health conditions.

To help you safely dispose of the fluorescent bulbs used in your business, Cardella offers a new bulb recycling service. Customers can order prepaid EasyPak boxes online or over the phone. These EasyPak boxes are custom containers designed to securely transport your old bulbs so they can be safely recycled—with no danger to you or the environment.

Interested? Call today to inquire about eco-friendly bulb disposal—or to order EasyPak boxes designed for battery and electronics recycling, too. It’s just one more way that Cardella is going green—and serving our valued customers in New York and New Jersey.

Saving Money

Joining today’s “Green Movement” may be great for the environment, but did you know your pocketbook can benefit, as well? Here are a few ideas to stretch your 2010 budget while reducing the waste stream and protecting precious natural resources.

1. Need some NEW old things to replace your OLD old things? Visit Freecycle.org, where you’ll find a network of residents trading their goods to keep reusable “stuff” out of our landfills. Save money on furniture, clothing, landscaping décor and more. You may even find a hidden treasure worth more than you bargained for!


2. Find household uses for those pesky plastic bags. Bathroom trashcan liners, pet clean-up and muddy shoe covers are just some of the ways you can breathe new life into old grocery bags.


3. This year, keep in touch with family and friends using recycled postcards. By cutting the front off of greeting cards you receive, you’ll save money on both cards and postage. Remember, USPS postcard size guidelines are as follows:
   
   
   
   • Minimum size: 3.5 inches tall by 5 inches long
   
   
   • Maximum size: 4.25 inches tall by 6 inches long
   
   

It’s a great year to think green. When you look around your home and discover items that can be reused, you’ll be saving not only the environment—but your hard-earned cash, as well. And in this economy—that’s good news.