10 ways to go green in Downtown Brooklyn
April 20, 2018
With the annual Earth Day celebration comes a reminder to live a “greener” lifestyle, and there are plenty of small steps we can take to lessen our impact on the planet. Join us in exploring how we can lessen our mark on the environment – without leaving Downtown Brooklyn. You might even discover something new about the neighborhood.
1. As our recent Community Survey confirmed, residents of Downtown Brooklyn are avid users of mass transit, and on CarFreeNYC there’s no better time to consider shunning the automobile. We’re #blessed to have 15 Citi Bike stations (which will all be free to use on Earth/Car Free Day), 12 subway lines, 15 bus lines, and quick access to NYC Ferry. In short: why does anyone own a car?
2. Heading to the grocery store? Bring reusable bags instead of adding to your pile of plastic ones - like our glamorous DBP tote (which, conveniently, will be available at our Earth Day Block Party this weekend).
3. Recycling has never been easier with our Big Belly compactors lining the streets of Downtown Brooklyn (see above). Cans and bottles go in a special slot, and “regular” trash is compacted using solar power.
4. Grabbing coffee? Know this: Starbucks goes through 4 billion disposable cups a year, and they can’t be recycled or composted because they’re lined with plastic. Bring your thermos or buy one in the neighborhood at one of our many shops.
5. Our deals are all available paper-free on our website. With 20 deals and counting, we’ve got savings on everything from hair salons to virtual reality clubs.
6. Shop local at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket (pictured above) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for a bounty of fresh local produce, plants, dairy, and more.
7. And while you load up on groceries at the Borough Hall Greenmarket, unload your old electronics to be recycled, as well as your compost waste and old clothing.
8. Stop and smell the roses – at our green wall at Future Plaza (above)! We’ll be planting a whole wall of foliage to green up the area.
9. In need of new reading material? Save trees by borrowing (digitally or physically) from the Brooklyn Public Library or get a history lesson from the Brooklyn Historical Society’s library (pictured above), just a short walk over in Brooklyn Heights.
10. Still not convinced? Need an extra push? Come for an in-person pep talk at our Earth Day Block Party this Saturday at Albee Square!
How are you going green in @DowntownBrooklyn? Tag us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
