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Make a Difference

Green Living - Tips and resources for making environmentally responsible choices in your daily life

Shelves of root and other autumn vegetables
Save autumn's bounty in your root
cellar - see last tip below.

Bookmark this page and check the "10 Things" list below for seasonally updated actions you can take to live greener right now! Or Subscribe to get an email letting you know when new seasonal tips are posted!

Ten Things You Can Do to Help The Environment Right Now

  • It's still not too late for a cover crop
    A cover crop or "green manure" protects your vegetable garden soil over the winter and reduces weeds. When cut and tilled or turned in next spring, the cover crop adds nutrients and organic matter. Winter rye can be planted through October and possibly beyond. See Cornell Factsheet link at right.
  • Instead of burning fall leaves...
    Compost them or put them in biodegradable bags if your town collects them that way. Avoid raking them into the street or into a storm drain where they can block storm runoff and cause flooded streets and basements. Shred them with your lawn mower and leave them on your lawn as a good source of nitrogen and organic matter.
  • Buy local firewood
    Protect New York forests from deadly invasive insects by asking your firewood provider for a receipt showing the source of the wood. Untreated firewood may not be imported from other states or transported more than 50 miles. See the "Don't Move Firewood" regulation
  • View migrating hawks and shorebirds
    A turkey vulture in flight, seen from below
    New York has many great spots to
    view fall bird migrations.
    Early fall is the prime time for these migratory species. Here are some excellent viewing locations: Jamaica Bay in Queens, Fire Island and Mashomack Preserve on Long Island, Braddock Bay in Greece and Franklin Mountain in Oneonta.
  • Choose a safer anti-freeze
    Winterize your car with propylene glycol anti-freeze, which is less toxic for pets, children and wildlife. Anti-freezes based on ethylene glycol are highly poisonous in even tiny amounts, and spills attract animals because it smells and tastes sweet. See U.S. EPA's link in the right hand column for precautions in cleaning up ethylene glycol spills.
  • Have a green Halloween!
    Little girl in an Emerald Ash Borer mask peeking from behind a tree trunk
    Looking for a scary Halloween costume?
    How about being the Emerald Ash Borer?
    Let your creative juices flow to create environmentally themed costumes from thrift store finds. Try a polar bear carrying a chunk of Styrofoam " polar ice," an emerald ash borer or Asian longhorned beetle mask (PDF, 192kb) (New York invasive insects), or a New York State symbol -- with a red t-shirt and a black magic marker, you could be a nine-spotted ladybug.
  • Winterize now for extra savings and comfort
    Adding insulation to your home will save you money and keep you more comfortable all winter. Wall, attic insulation and air sealing are now eligible for a 30% tax credit (up to $1500). The credit is for the cost of materials only and does not cover insulated siding. See the Federal Energy Tax Credits link at right details.
  • Fertilize lawns in the fall
    Lawns fertilized in the fall will stay greener longer, green-up earlier the following spring, and have higher energy reserves through the summer. This stored energy will help keep your lawn healthy next summer. See Green Lawns and Gardens Tips for the best way to fertilize.
  • Check your tire pressure
    Fall and winter are critical times to check your tire's air pressure. As the temperature drops, air contracts, reducing pressure. This results in lower mileage and increased tire wear. Keep tires inflated to the recommended pressure - not the maximum pressure shown on the tire.
  • Eat local produce throughout the winter
    Basements, attics, sheds, porches and unheated spare rooms or closets can become "root cellars" if they stay evenly cool (32 - 60 degrees). See the link at right to fruit and vegetable storage guidelines.

Myth Busters

Common environmental misconceptions and myths exposed and explained by DEC experts

The lowdown on plastic bag recycling

Myth:

Supermarkets accept only plastic grocery bags for recycling.

Busted!

Since January 1, 2009, larger retail and grocery stores in New York State must make collection bins for plastic bag recycling available to customers in a visible, easily accessible location. In addition to plastic shopping bags, most stores also accept

Plastic grocery bags with groceries inside
You can bring a lot more back to the store
than just plastic shopping bags.

Plastic retail bags with string ties and rigid plastic handles removed
Plastic newspaper bags
Plastic dry-cleaning bags
Plastic produce bags
Plastic bread bags
Plastic cereal bags
Plastic frozen food bags
Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, etc)
Plastic stretch/shrink wrap
Plastic zipper-type bags with plastic closing mechanism removed
All materials must be clean and dry, with all food residue removed
These items cannot be recycled with plastic bags:
Plastic bags with strings, rigid plastic handles, closing mechanisms or food residue
Plastic soil or mulch bags
Plastic bubble wrap
Plastic food containers
Plastic bottles

So if you forget your reusable shopping bags on occasion, no need for a huge guilt trip. Next time just remember to bring them to the store, along with your plastic bags and wraps for recycling.

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