“Going Green” is not a new concept. Kristin P. Bergfeld was a key organizer for the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 and has been using green cleaning products for BERGFELD’s since she started her business almost 30 years ago. What 
is new and exciting, are all of the green initiatives and technologies that have developed since that time. Green living has become more accessible and is showing up in creative ways in all sorts of industries. In my apartment building, and many others around New York City, we have recycling bins for electronics, textiles and battery recycling as well as a designated compost bin. At a yoga class recently, I noticed that there was not a plastic water bottle to be seen, everyone had brought their own re-usable water containers. You see more people bringing their own bags to the grocery store, and there are new and developing regulations regarding plastic bag recycling.
In celebration of BERGFELD’s upcoming 30th year anniversary, and in keeping with our practice of green cleaning and honoring history, we have selected a few articles about the history of waste management to share. In addition, we are including current information and resources for recycling and waste disposal in New York.
A Recycling Retrospective
A History of Waste Management. From ancient times to modern day, a timeline of the human race’s coping with waste.
New York City’s History-Making Recycling Law Turns 25 Years Old. The first of a three part article.
A Brief History of Household Recycling. A timeline with some great graphics.
A Filthy History: When New Yorkers Lived Knee-Deep in Trash. An archaeological and anthropological exploration.
Current New York Waste Solutions
Zero Waste
NYC Department of Sanitation
Information on how to properly dispose of anything from Antifreeze to Zebra print leggings.
Green NYC
Simple steps we can all take to make our homes and NYC a greener place to live.
NYC Parks Department
Become a park steward and help keep our parks clean and green.
New York State’s Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act
in effect since January 1, 2009.
Starting February 15, 2017, stores in New York City will charge customers at least five cents (5¢) for each plastic, paper, or cloth carryout bag provided by the store.
‘Outside-the-Bin’ Recycling Inspirations
In addition to the resources just mentioned, we found a couple of articles showcasing some extraordinarily creative re-purposing ideas, elevating old discards into objet d’art.
23 Creative Ways To Reuse Old Plastic Bottles
45 Creative Recycling Ideas That Bring Trash Back To Life
Giant rooster puppet made with ties
And here is an idea that BERGFELD’s brought to a client who was downsizing. Our client was reluctant to part with his extensive tie collection of many years. A retired professor, each tie represented an academic community or achievement for him. When Kristin introduced him to a friend, Ralph Lee, who makes giant puppets for street theater and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, he was intrigued, and gladly relinquished his ties so that they could be used to make tail feathers for a giant rooster!
