Lifestyle Tips:
BYO
All those morning joes in to go cups can add up. Those one-use cups are so 2010. Replace your one-time use cup habit with a stylish and sustainable reusable bottle or mug. You will save money and our planet's precious natural resources.
Buy It Used
From furniture to cars to bikes, almost everything can be bought in good shape second-hand. What could be more New York than a good deal?
Check out the NYC Stuff Exchange
Housing Works Thrift Stores
Recycle
You know the three R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). But do you know how powerful they can be? The average New Yorker throws out nearly 4.5 pounds of waste each year. If we can remember our Rs, we can lower that number and stop overcrowding our landfills.
Not sure where that goes? Look it up
Use Reusable Bags
Reusable bags look great, don't rip, and carry lots of stuff. Keep a box of them near your front door so you remember to take them to the store. It's surprisingly convenient!
Use Online Banking
Enroll in a paperless banking program. It's safe, convenient, and can help the US keep 1 billion pounds of paper out of the waste stream.
Buy Things That Last
Whether you're spending a bit more to buy something that lasts, repairing the old instead of going right to new, or giving away what you can't keep, think twice before buying and tossing.
Where to Donate
Buy Local
The closer your food, the fresher, tastier, and more nutritious it is. Organic produce from your local farmer's market can cost 40% less than supermarket produce. It's also traveled around 1,500 fewer miles to reach your neighborhood.
Learn more about buying local
Eat Organic
Organic food contains far fewer chemicals than conventional food. It's better for your health, and it reduces water pollution and dependence on oil.
Get a Library Card
Save money (and trees!) by borrowing books from the library. They have the latest best sellers, all the classics, even movies, music, and magazines. Visit a New York Public Library- they're some of the best in the nation.
Buy Items with Less Packaging
Go for the items with minimal or recycled packaging. They're simple, sleek, and best of all, you'll help reduce the 570 billion pounds of waste generated in the US every year.
Buy Less
New York apartments (and nests) are pretty tiny and can get crowded quick. Try to think before you buy and you can reduce the clutter in your life and our landfills.
Here's how to buy less.
Use Products Without Plastic Microbeads
There are 800 trillion toxic, plastic microbeads entering water sources every day in the U.S. Make sure to steer clear of products that contain harmful microplastics and look for healthier alternatives.