Environmental Responsibility in Your Neighborhood

January 2020

There are a number of things you can do in and around your own home at the 555TEN Midtown West apartments to boost NYC’s environmental friendliness. You’re probably already lessening your carbon footprint by taking public transportation, walking, or riding a bicycle to get where you’re going. And apartment living means that you’re using less energy to heat and cool your home. But still, there’s a lot more that we can all do to reduce our environmental impact even further. Here are a few easy ways to help out the planet that you can easily fit into your lifestyle.

 

Eat Local and Organic When Possible

 

The organic and local “trends” of a decade ago are now standards that many of us regularly seek out — and with good reason. Fewer chemicals and preservatives are used in the production of organic foods, and so these substances don’t wind up in our bodies — or in the Earth. Locally sourced foods require less fossil fuels for transportation and less refrigeration (read: less energy) to keep them from spoiling in transit. The Hudson Yards Down to Earth Farmers Market provides an opportunity to shop for this more environmentally friendly fare. From mid-May through mid-November, this Thursday farmers market offers a variety of foods, organic and local as well as traditionally produced and sourced. Bring your own reusable bags and baskets and reduce your footprint even further.

 

Don’t Just Throw It Away

 

A city of millions naturally generates a lot of trash, but with a bit of planning and effort, the amount that each of us throws away can be substantially reduced. Composting is an easy and beneficial way of doing this. While composting may seem difficult in a place where outdoor space is limited, compost sites, such as the Pier 76 Community Compost Drop Off, are here to help. The Pier 76 site accepts fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, teabags (with the staples removed), rice, pasta, bread, cereal, egg and nut shells, and dried and cut flowers. Make certain to remove meats and dairy, as well as any fats or oils, from your drop before delivery. For your convenience, the brown bins at the site are available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m for dropping off compost. While they don’t recycle aluminum, plastic, or paper, you can (and should) do so according to the guidelines and schedule found on the New York City Sanitation website. And, as an additional way to reduce waste, remember to ask or opt for compostable packaging when you shop.

 

Reuse and Reclaim

 

Here is an astonishing statistic: According to the Earth Institute at Columbia University, the average American discards about 80 pounds of clothes per year; and nearly 85 percent of that ends up in a landfill. While that’s a lot, it doesn’t mean you have to stop shopping. However, the next time you feel the need to update your wardrobe, consider skipping the fast fashion and make a dash (on foot or bicycle) for the chic stylings of vintage clothing at shops like Couture du Jour or Morphew. While it takes a little more effort, the hunt for just the right piece is incredibly rewarding — both for the environment and your wardrobe. Likewise, instead of throwing away your own gently used pieces, consider selling or consigning them. Donate warm coats and other practical garments to local charities that ask for them, but only if they’re in need of the items: Unwanted or unneeded clothes or shoes can cost charities money to dispose of and result in increasing their environmental footprint. 

 

With a little thought and effort, you can make a difference. The neighborhood around the Midtown West luxury apartments at 555TEN makes it all the easier with the availability of local markets, composting, and options to recycle and reuse. Helping NYC reduce its carbon footprint a little each day can make for big changes over the long term. Keep up the good work. The planet is counting on you.