Today Is World Soil Day, Haki Compost Collective Asks You To Take Local Action To Keep Roosevelt Island And Other NYC Food Scrap Drop Off Sites Operating And Save It From NYC Budget Cuts Elimination

Haki Compost Collective volunteer Julia Ferguson reports:

Due to proposed NYC budget cuts, the last Haki Compost Collective Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off collection

will be  Saturday December 16, 2023.

We received the letter below from the Big Reuse Manager of Community Partnerships. The situation is serious and this is the week when we need community participation

1. Sign the petition at Grow NYC

2. Submit testimony online, on zoom, or in person for Dec. 11th Finance Hearing

3. Attend Rally and Press Conference on Wednesday Dec 6th 12-1pm City Hall Park

 4. Call or write Council Members (ie Julie Menin for our district.) 

• ask our CM's to urge DSNY Commissioner Tisch to reinstate Community Composting

• ask CM's  to discuss and vote to restore these programs in the budget line because these programs are part of the health and safety infrastructure in our city "Please do all that you can to change the city budget plan that eliminates Community Composting (Green Bin) programs. The community compost programs like the NYC Compost Project (Big Reuse, Lower East Side Ecology, Earth Matter, Snug Harbor) and GrowNYC play a vital role in our city. "

• Reasons: These 115 essential green jobs mean that NYC 

  • diverts over 8 million pounds of organic waste from landfills;
  • gives finished compost to over 335 community groups and thousands of individuals 
  • creates storm resilient soils across the city that mitigate flooding 
  • provides compost education to over 600,000 New Yorkers 
  • educates widely about prevention of rats in NYC
  • This essential service supports New York's climate goals - a keystone service in this regard.

Ms Ferguson shares shares the letter from Big Reuse:

Dear Community Compost Partners,

Due to the City’s financial crisis and elimination of funds for community compost programs, we regret to inform you that we can no longer offer food scrap hauling service. Saturday, December 16th, will be the last food scrap pick up date. On this date, we will collect all the green Toters and any extra bins you may have received. 

Please have toters with food scrap or emptied out ready for collection, if you are not receiving weekly hauling we will still be coming by for any remaining toters that may be used for compost or browns distribution. We also will be hanging signage at your site in the next week or two to help spread awareness of this closure to all your neighbors and participants. Attached is the signage that we will have laminated and hanging (if applicable).

 

We want to thank you for being a part of our community composting family and providing a valuable service for your community. On a personal note, it has been incredibly joyous and fulfilling to partner with so many incredible community groups and gardens across our city to support sustainable practices and direct climate action. 

 

To help keep the community strong, we recommend joining the NYC Community Composting Google Group. If you’re interested in learning about updates to our community composting program, please check our website and the petition page. 

From our team at Big Reuse, we thank you for this collaboration and hope our paths cross again

As previously reported:

... The Haki Compost Collective thanks you for dropping off your food scraps on Saturdays. Since November 2015, we have collectively diverted over 341,017 pounds of food scraps from landfill, or 170 tons, equivalent to 85 SUV's in weight!

Several dump truck loads of nutrient-rich compost have come back to the Island trees, flowers and gardens and been given back to neighbors for their house plants....

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Scenes From Last Saturday's Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap, Over 5 Thousand Pounds Of Items Dropped Off - Learn About The Roosevelt Island Sustainability Guide Too For Local Events And Initiatives

The Fifth annual Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Stop n Swap took place last Saturday November 11 at the Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center.

According to Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico:

Stop N Swap early data from GrowNYC tabulates 5,000 pounds of good quality items dropped off and over 4,000 pounds found local homes. Partner Junk Lugger, the sustainably-minded removal company with charity relations, took the remainder. So glad so many came out to GrowNYC’s fifth Stop N Swap on Roosevelt Island at the Older Adult Center thanks to partner Lisa Fernandez and mgmt at Roosevelt Landings. 

Ms Delfico added: 

We spotlighted Stephanie Herlihy and the Roosevelt Island Sustainability Guide (RISG) she created as a hub for local events and ongoing initiatives that keep island neighborhood and neighbors healthy and clean. Community input welcomed.

63 people signed up for the RISG monthly updated email at the Stop N Swap. They are also new to Instagram.

We are grateful to Lisa Fernandez and Roosevelt Landings management, RIOC and PSD for supporting these annual reuse events!

I spoke with Ms Delfico and Ms Herlihy at the Roosevelt Island Stop n Swap about Roosevelt Island community sustainability initiatives.

 

Here are the first 3 Pages of inaugural Guide To Sustainability On Roosevelt Island.

Click here to read the rest of the Guide.

You can follow the Guide To Roosevelt Island Sustainability on Instagram and sign up to receive upcoming email Guides as well.

Scenes From Last Saturday's Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap - Over 500 Participants, 4600 Pounds Of Quality Items Donated And 82% Diverted Out Of Landfill

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico reports on last Saturday's Grow NYC Stop N Swap. According to Ms Delfico:

The GrowNYC numbers are in for the Stop N' Swap held last Saturday November 12 at the Older Adult Center on Roosevelt Island: 

• 4,600 lbs. of donations. 
• 3,760 lbs. were cycled back into the community. 
• Nearly an 82% diversion rate - our best yet. 
• The 840 unswapped lbs. were donated at the end of the day.

This year items were themed by room and time allotted entries of fifty people at a time helped give everyone access throughout the day.  

 We are so grateful to GrowNYC’s staff and volunteers, as well as local youth and Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department, who helped keep things organized and moving slowly at this year’s Stop N’ Swap home - Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center. 

Stop N’ Swaps are hosted by GrowNYC year round in various NYC neighborhoods.

We love going to the swap and finding that kitchen item or outfit that is perfectly good to take home. We have reached a tipping point where the majority of people now realize that the over consumption of items wastes so many resources, from fuel to earth materials, and with just a little extra effort good quality items can be re-gifted to others. 

Year after year, neighbors come out in droves to provide good quality items no longer needed to our annual Stop N' Swap. This is iDig2Learn's fourth team up with GrowNYC, and 2022 hit an all time high with an 82% diversion rate keeping goods out of the landfill and going right back into community hands. Anything left over is donated to those in need - truly a win-win.

Sponsored Post - Grow NYC Fourth Annual Roosevelt Island Free Stop N Swap Community Event Saturday November 12 - Bring Items You No Longer Need To Give Away, Take Something New Home With You, Reduce, Reuse And Save Money

The Grow NYC Stop N Swap returns to Roosevelt Island Saturday November 12.

According to Grow NYC:

New Yorkers looking to reduce, reuse, and save money are invited to participate in GrowNYC’s Stop ‘N’ Swap® program on Roosevelt Island, a free community reuse event at the Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center. Rather than send perfectly good items to a landfill, participants can bring reusable items to share with others, including gently used books, toys, fashionable clothing, housewares, and electronics. We do not accept furniture and other large items.

“We love teaming up with GrowNYC for the Stop N’ Swap,” says partner Christina Delfico,iDig2Learn’s founder. “We dig, we plant, and we love protecting nature so getting good quality joyful things into the hands of others is good for the planet and our wallets too!” The Roosevelt Island Stop ‘N’ Swap® event details include:

• WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event 
• WHEN: Saturday, November 12th, 12pm – 3pm* 
• Donations accepted 11am-2pm 
• WHERE: Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center – 546 Main St (Ground Floor) Roosevelt Island, NY 10044

“The average NYC household discards about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in diverting over 3 million tons of refuse disposed of each year, keeping them out of landfills and incinerators,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC President and CEO. “In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, they also build community as New Yorkers come out and meet their neighbors.”

Since 2007, GrowNYC’s Stop ‘N’ Swap program has developed a regular following among thrifty and environmentally conscious New Yorkers. GrowNYC’s Zero Waste Programs are funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation. To learn more please visit Grow NYC.

Here are some scenes from the 2021 outdoor Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap

The Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts encouraged us to recycle

at the Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap.

Click here for more info on the Grow NYC Stop N Swap program.

Scenes From Last Saturday's Roosevelt Island Grow NYC Stop N Swap - Did You Drop Off Or Pick Up Any Items?

Did you drop off or pick up any items from last Saturday's Roosevelt Island Grow NYC Stop N Swap? 

According to Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico, 506 people did just that.

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I spoke with Grow NYC's Jon Klar who reports:

We are looking to divert waste from landfills in a fun interactive reuse event for the community. We are funded by the Department of Sanitation to run these Stop and Shop events throughout the city. We're doing one in every community district. This is our third event of the fiscal year. We're doing 59.

People bring stuff they don't need anymore or don't want, drop it off with us and we weigh it to get some metrics. W put it out in the proper appropriate section and then folks can take whatever gets put out. You don't need to bring something to take something....

and that people bring:

... everything  from books to housewares, lots of clothes, toys, all sorts of things. It really is a grab  bag.

 Ms Delfico adds:

 ...  in 2019  we were able in three short hours to collect 6300 pounds of good quality items. Over 80% went  back to people in the community and the rest went to Goodwill. We're living on an island. There's no reason we can't exchange  really great quality items among and to each  other and partnering with Grow NYC is the  perfect way to do it. They're going to hit about 59  neighborhoods this year and we're one of the first...

Will update when info available on how much was collected at the Roosevelt Island 2021 Stop N Swap.

Sponsored Post - Grow NYC Third Annual Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap Free Community Reuse Event Saturday November 13 - Bring Items You No Longer Need To Give Away, Take Something New Home With You, Reduce, Reuse And Save Money This Holiday Season

According to Grow NYC:

New Yorkers looking to reduce, reuse, and save money this holiday season are invited to participate in Stop ‘N’ Swap®, a free community reuse event organized by local non-profit GrowNYC, in collaboration with iDig2Learn and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

“GrowNYC is a lifesaver! Our island community doesn’t have a thrift shop so we are thrilled that the 217 PTA provided space for this free, kind-to-our-wallets, and kind-to-the-earth Stop N’ Swap!” said Christina Delfico, iDig2Learn, founder. 

Give the gift of a cleaner future by joining the ever-growing reuse community for the holidays! “Reuse is one of the best ways to conserve natural resources, prevent waste and pollution, and save money,” said Christina Salvi, Risk and Safety Coordinator of GrowNYC’s Zero Waste Programs. 

The public is invited to bring clean, portable, reusable items to share with those who can use them. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking. Books, toys, fashionable clothing, housewares, and electronics are just some of the offerings; furniture and other large items are not accepted at the swap. Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated or recycled. All participants must be wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status. 

WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event 

WHEN: Saturday, November 13, 12pm-3pm 

WHERE: Outdoor Schoolyard at P.S./I.S. 217, 646 Main St., Roosevelt Island *This is an outdoor event. In case of inclement weather, event will be held at The Helix, across Main Street 

Since 2007, GrowNYC Stop ‘N’ Swaps have developed a regular following among thrifty and environmentally conscious New Yorkers. “The average NYC household discards about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in diverting some of the 2.5 million tons of refuse disposed of each year, keeping them out of landfills and incinerators,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC President and CEO. “In fact, it’s a triple-win; in addition to economic and environmental benefits, they also build community as New Yorkers come out and meet their neighbors.”

iDig2Learn's Ms Delfico adds:

When GrowNYC called to offer their free Stop N’ Swap goods exchange event to Roosevelt Island we said yes before they even finished their sentence. 

This will be the third time we have partnered and Islanders love the idea of reuse and dropping off their gently used toys, household goods and clothing and picking up a few new-to-you items neighbors no longer need. 

And our 2019 Swap yielded over 6,300 pounds of good quality items during the 3 hour event and more than 80% if those items went back to neighbors with the rest was donated to Goodwill. 

Saturday November 13th is the perfect day for the Swap because it is just before the holidays. This year we needed a new home since the Manhattan Park theater is a staging area for renovation work. And the 217 PTA immediately loved the idea of hosting this community favorite and the 217 administration leadership agreed in record time to using the outdoor schoolyard. 

Here’s how it works, bring portable items in working condition to the 217 schoolyard at 645 Main Street from noon to 3pm Saturday 11/13. GrowNYC will weigh them and set them out on tables. You don’t have to drop to take, so look around the apartment for those nice items you no longer use and give them the gift of a new home or just stop by.

As one young islander said, “It’s like a thrift shop but free.” 

See you at the Swap!

Ms Delfico and Grow NYC's Victoria Dearborn describe the very successful 2018 Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap

 

and our local Girl Scouts encourage us all

to recycle at the Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap. 

UPDATE 11/12:

RAIN LOCATION:

If raining the Stop N’ Swap will be directly across the street from PS/IS 217 school (645 Main Street) under the Helix overramp behind the Citibike docking station.

Sign Petition To Bring Back Roosevelt Island Grow NYC Food Scrap Drop Off Compost Collection Bin Program - Over 134 Thousand Pounds Of Food Scraps Diverted From Landfill By Roosevelt Island Waste Reduction Programs Since 2015

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Grow NYC Food Scrap Drop Off Compost Collection Bin program 

has been suspended since last March 28 due to NYC Coronavirus Pandemic budget cuts. According to Grow NYC:

The coronavirus outbreak has suspended many of the zero waste programs New Yorkers have come to rely on, including GrowNYC’s zero waste programs, DSNY’s curbside compost program, and the citywide network of food scrap drop-off sites...

But, NY 1 reported July 7 that some funds were restored for the program:

... Curbside pickups of compostable materials have been suspended for the entire budget year - idling those brown garbage cans meant for food scraps and yard waste. At the last minute, the City Council restored $2.9 million to the NYC Compost project — enabling New Yorkers to drop off compostables at sites across the city. However, all of those locations are currently closed because of the pandemic....

The Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off Compost Program began in November 2015. At that time, Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop Leader Aiesha Eleusizov explained to us how it works.



Supporters of the Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off Bin ask you to help bring the program back to Roosevelt Island by signing this petition.

Please take a moment to sign & share with Roosevelt islanders - please return the Food Scrap Drop Off to Roosevelt Island - we are floating in the east river, lost without you. #earthlove #compost @Rooseveltisland @RI_Daily @LibRoosevelt https://t.co/aBTirfdrke

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) July 25, 2020

Here's the full petition - Please sign by Tuesday, July 28:

Letter to GrowNYC to petition for the return of the Roosevelt Island food scrap drop-off site.

Read more »

Roosevelt Island Residents Work Together To Bring Food Scrap Compost Drop Off Collection Bin Back, You Can Help By Taking Survey, Sign Petition, Submit Testimony And Pick Up A Shovel

Roosevelt Islanders were very happy with the return of our Saturday Farmers Market to Good Shepherd Plaza last week. But, many were disappointed that the Roosevelt Island Grow NYC Food Scrap Drop Off Collection Bin

did not return as well due to NYC Coronavirus Budget cuts. According to the NYC Department of Sanitation:

In the face of economic hardship, and to ensure the City can continue to devote resources to essential safety, health, and shelter, and food security needs, the New York City Department of Sanitation announced the suspension of the curbside composting program, beginning May 4, 2020. During the suspension, any food scraps and yard waste set out for composting will be collected as trash. The suspension is currently planned through June 30, 2021...

A Roosevelt Island resident asked yesterday:

I’m reaching out regarding the compost area that would be set up every Saturday by GrowNYC. I was wondering if the island “paper” could look further into this to try and get it back. I’m sure many people like myself miss composting.

Efforts are being made to bring food scrap composting back to Roosevelt Island and you can help.

Read more »

Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop Off Collection At Good Shepherd Plaza Saturday Farmers Market Suspended Until Further Notice After Tomorrow Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn Founder Christina Delfico reports:

Regrettably but understandably Department of Sanitation will suspend all GrowNYC Food Scrap Drop Off collection & clothing collection starting Monday, March 23rd.

They WILL collect food scraps one more time on Roosevelt Island this Saturday 3/21 to help rid neighbors of the scraps collected this week. Collection operations will then be halted to protect staff and to minimize public crowds during the height of the virus. No restart date has been determined.

Partners GrowNYC and Big Reuse are saddened to report this news especially because Roosevelt Islanders helped make this program a success.

This weekend please thank (from a distance) Danika our resident food scrap coordinator

Read more »

Roosevelt Island Farmers Market Is Open Saturday And Relocates Back To Good Shepherd Plaza Open Area, Food Scrap Drop Off Moves There Too - Remember To Follow Example Of RI Ducks And Maintain Social Distancing Practices.

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market plans to be open this Saturday but will move its locations from Motorgate Plaza back to the open area of Good Shepherd Plaza.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

This Saturday, March 21st., the farmers market and NYC Compost food scrap drop-off is expected to be open and will be relocated to their spring/summer location at Good Shepherd Plaza.

This is subject to change and all social distancing practices should be followed. The Public Safety Department will be on-site monitoring the market for any safety concerns.

Remember to practice at least 6 feet of Social Distancing when you are outside.

Roosevelt Island ducks are heeding advice about Social Distancing during Coronavirus Emergency. Humans please do the same. @NYCMayor @NYGovCuomo @nycemergencymgt @RIOCny https://t.co/xMHP5fa4A0

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) March 19, 2020

You're Invited To Engaged Roosevelt Island Hot Chocolate Community Conversation on Local Sustainability Practices And Zero Waste At The Sanctuary Event Space December 11 - Also, Grow NYC New Host Of RI Food Scrap Drop Off Next To Saturday Farmers Market

Engaged Roosevelt Island is hosting a free Hot Chocolate conversation

for residents to discuss local sustainability practices at The Sanctuary event space

on December 11. You're invited.

According to Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico:

Engaged Roosevelt Island - FREE 12/11 Hot Chocolate & Conversations 4:30p-7p

Cornell Tech received a grant that spearheads a year of community planning to promote environmental understanding and boost sustainable practices on Roosevelt Island - which basically means designing a healthy and beautiful neighborhood that is kind to us and the earth. Whether you attended or missed the Engaged RI kick-off event on Zero Waste at the Tata Innovation Center last month please Save the Date and stop by The Sanctuary next week to continue the conversation - Wed., 12/11 from 4:30p - 7p for free Hot Chocolate and to share your ideas and to learn more. Short presentations will happen throughout the event.

This is a Zero Waste event so please bring your own mug (extras will be on hand as well).

We are excited that RIOC, RIRA and the Cornell Cooperative Extension NYC are on board, and local groups like Open Doors, Roosevelt Island Library, the Senior Center, the Garden Club, GRIN, Girl Scouts and many other groups, local buildings and businesses and islanders are already working to keep the neighborhood clean and green, so please join the conversation.

Ms Delfico adds:

Schedule Change Notification

Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop-off

Starting on Saturday, December 7th, the new hours of operation for the Roosevelt Island Food Scrap Drop-off will be on:

Saturdays, from 9:00 AM-1:30 PM.

Starting on Saturday, December 7th, this site will be operated by our partner organization, GrowNYC. For more information about GrowNYC Compost Programs, please visit grownyc.org/compost.

We are truly grateful for the outstanding efforts that members of the Roosevelt Island community have made to live more sustainably and help rebuild NYC’s soil. To find more drop-off locations near you and other ways to compost your food scraps, please visit nyc.gov/dropfoodscraps.

Reminder @Rooseveltisland Food Scrap Drop Off Sked hours Change -9am-1:30p starting next week SAT 12/7 - same location next 2 farmers market. Food scraps are not garbage🌱 #earthlove #zerowaste #compost @RIOCny @BigReuse @GrowNYC @NYCzerowaste @NYCSanitation pic.twitter.com/DjPhIXxwnc

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) November 30, 2019

Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap Reuse Event A Great Success - Diverted Over 6 Thousand Pounds From Landfill, 2nd Most Donations Received Anywhere Ever Says Grow NYC, Re-Purposing Is Good!

@RIOCny Goes Green diverting over 6,000 pounds from landfill. This is the good kind of weight loss! Thanks 2 @GrowNYC Stop N Swap on @Rooseveltisland 260 neighbors donated & took free good quality items! Swaps make sense! #zerowaste pic.twitter.com/LkyH9oMlCy

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) November 21, 2019

The second annual Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Swap N Stop

held Saturday November 9 at the Manhattan Park Theater Club was a great success. Residents gave away items they no longer wanted to be reused by others who did want them. Items remaining were either donated or recycled.

The theme of the day as expressed by these Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts who welcomed Swappers to the Stop N Swap was:

Re-Purposing Is Good

I spoke to Grow NYC Project Coordinator Ida Yu and Roosevelt Island resident/iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico at the Stop N Swap.



Ms Delfico reported yesterday:

Breaking news: GrowNYC project coordinator, Ida Yu conveys that the 2019 Roosevelt Island GrowNYC Stop N' Swap had the 2nd most donations GrowNYC swaps have received anywhere, ever! 1,509 more pounds of good quality items were dropped off this year than last year totaling 6,317 pounds. And the free take back rate of those items directly to the community jumped up 13% to total 80%. Thanks to RIOC, Manhattan Park, Gristedes, the Girl Scouts, RI Garden Club and GRIN our GrowNYC partner's Stop N' Swap was a huge success.

These Zero Waste events are kind to our wallets, our neighbors and the earth by reducing unnecessary waste to the landfill. Plus Gristedes food donation filled bag after reusable bag of free food to support islanders. And we added the a plant exchange thanks to the RI Garden Club. iDig2Learn gave away stylish kitchen compost bins to encourage another earth-friendly practice - dropping food scraps weekly so they can be composted by partner Big Reuse.

One island neighbor said she saw the most island neighbors ever at any island event at the Swap.

Thank you GrowNYC volunteers and of course, Ida Yu and Cordelia Alquist.

Who knew being kind to the earth could be so much fun!

The stats side by side 2018 / 2019

Last year 362 people attended / this year 260 people attended

Last year 4808 pounds of good quality items were donated / this year 6,317 pounds

Last year 67% taken back to the community the same day / this year 80 %

Some more scenes from the November 9 Grow NYC Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap.

Thanks @RIOCny @GrowNYC Stop N’ Swap was a hit! Adding the plant exchange was great & @Gristedes food donation in reusable bags so appreciated. @girlscoutsnyc rocked the day w/ reuse messaging & helping everyone celebrate the value of exchanging. #zerowaste pic.twitter.com/v63pCkPVrF

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) November 9, 2019

Sponsored Post - Grow NYC Second Annual Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap Free Community Reuse Event Saturday November 9 - Bring Items You No Longer Need To Give Away, Take Something New Home With You & Help The Environment By Keeping Waste Out Of Landfills, Bring Healthy House Plants In Need Of New Home Too

VOTE with your feet! Attend Roosevelt Island GrowNYC SWAP this SAT Nov. 9 Noon - 3pm. Drop off good quality items or just stop by & take free items! New: Bring healthy house plants in need of a new home, RI Garden Club will host. https://t.co/q9gzfpxTzQ pic.twitter.com/2RyAaPnZhB

— iDig2Learn (@iDig2Learn) November 5, 2019

New Yorkers looking to clean out clutter or pick up some new-to-you items are invited to participate in Stop ‘N’ Swap®, a free community reuse event organized by local non-profit GrowNYC. “Reuse is one of the best ways to conserve natural resources, prevent waste and pollution, and save money,” said Ida Yu, Grow NYC Stop N Swap Coordinator. At last year’s Swap, Roosevelt Island community members saved almost 5,000 pounds of reusable items from the landfill.

This year, we hope to see even more goods going to new homes when Stop ‘N’ Swap returns to Roosevelt Island in November, in partnership with iDig2Learn, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and Manhattan Park!

The public is invited to bring clean, portable, reusable items to share with those who can use them. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking. Books, toys, fashionable clothing, housewares, and electronics are just some of the offerings. Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated or recycled. Furniture and other large items are not accepted at the swap.

WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event

WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 12pm-3pm

WHERE: Manhattan Park Theatre Club, 8 River Road, Manhattan 10044

Since 2007, GrowNYC Stop ‘N’ Swaps have developed a regular following among thrifty and environmentally conscious New Yorkers. “The average NYC household discards about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in diverting over 40 million pounds of material a year from the landfill,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC President and CEO. “In fact, it’s a triple-win; in addition to economic and environmental benefits, they also build community as New Yorkers come out and meet their neighbors.”

"The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is happy to support an event that encourages and supports environmentally sound policies," said Susan Rosenthal, President and CEO of RIOC. “Many Island residents have quality items they no longer use. A free community swap is a great way to find a new home for them while possibly finding something for themselves in return.”

iDig2Learn's founder, Christina Delfico said, "At holiday time waste can be abundant and the Swap offers us free top-quality goods. This resource is kind to neighbors, our wallets and the earth. RI Garden Club will join to host the exchange of healthy houseplants looking for a new home and Gristedes Supermarket returns with a generous donation of dried goods in reusable bags to boost community sustainability efforts.”

Girl Scout Troop 3233, 3001 and 3244 will also be at the Roosevelt Island Swap, helping share ideas with New Yorkers about reuse and its value. “I’m proud to see these Girl Scouts taking action to make the world a better place by working to use resources wisely, and reuse items rather than buy new ones,” said Meridith Maskara, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York.

The Roosevelt Island Garden Club agrees that these kinds of Swaps make perfect environmental and equitable sense for our world today. “We can reduce our carbon footprint when we drop by to support reuse and reduce unnecessary consumption. Share a barely used treasure before the holidays. Simplify to ring in a healthier, happier holiday season. Swaps make perfect sense for our Island community.”

Ms Delfico and Grow NYC's Victoria Dearborn describe the very successful 2018 Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap



and our local Girl Scouts encourage us all



to recycle at the Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap.

You'll be glad to get rid of things you no longer use, may find some good new stuff and help the environment by keeping waste out of landfills.

More interesting info on Grow NYC Stop and Swap from this video,



 their web site here and check out more scenes from the 2018 Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap.

See you on Saturday November 9 for the 2019 Roosevelt Island Stop N Swap