FundingFactory boosted its nationwide e-waste collection efforts throughout November with “Care2Collect Just 1,” a unique recycling promotion that encouraged everyone to recycle “Just 1” inkjet or printer toner cartridge, cell phone, or small electronic. For every 100 recyclables received November 1-30, we donated $1 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Last month, 5,203 schools and nonprofit organizations recycled 290,194 items with FundingFactory and on December 12, we presented Second Harvest with a check for $3,000 to feed the hungry.

“Care2Collect Just 1” encouraged e-cyclers to also donate a nonperishable food item alongside recyclable cartridges, cell phones, or small electronics, and then donate those food items to their local food bank.

The mission of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is to distribute food to hungry people and eliminate the waste of food. Through valuable collaborations, Second Harvest is able to obtain approximately $17 worth of food with each $1.

You can participate in other great contests and promotions like “Care2Collect Just 1″, when you become a FundingFactory participant! Simply register for our free recycling fundraiser to start collecting used printer cartridges, cell phones, and small electronics for points and cash!

Tip 1: Make a Spooky Statement in a Homemade Costume

Check out this cutie! He dressed up as WALL-E, but instead of buying a costume, made one using old computer boxes and packaging material! It’s scary, (in a good way) how crafty you can get with creating a unique, homemade costume all your own. Plus, you can guarantee you don’t have to fret about showing up in the same costume as everyone else. Hit up thrift stores, yard sales, or even your friends wardrobe to assemble your costume. Eco-friendly costumes are simpler to make than purchasing one because they don’t contain harmful chemicals, there’s no lingering waste. Win a costume contest with any of these homemade options!

Tip 2: Give Eco-Friendly Treats 

It’s estimated that that the average American ingests 1.2 pounds of candy on Halloween. That’s a lot of Fun-Size Twix and Starbursts! This year, skip over the packaged candies and pick up some treat with little or no packaging. If you really wanted to be extra green, you could forget candy altogether and pass out practical treats from the dollar store like playing cards or coloring supplies. Feel like getting a little culinary? Give those trick-or-treaters something special like roasted pumpkin seeds or popcorn balls! Dress them up in recycled paper, and you’ll have saved the planet extra packaging waste.

Tip 3: Walk Instead of Driving

There will roughly be 41 million princesses, pirates, and pop stars venturing to your neighborhood to trick-or-treat. With that many kids running around, why not join them? Every two minutes of car idling consumes the same amount of gas required to drive approximately one mile. Make it a family affair and walk the neighborhood together… remember you have 1.2 pounds of candy to burn off!

Tip 4: Dress-up Your Haunted House with Homemade Decorations

Don’t waste your time shopping for decorations you’ll use once and then toss. Decorate for Halloween with what’s already around you. Visit a farmers market to stock up on cornstalks, hay bales, and pumpkins. With the beautiful autumn leaves as a backdrop, your Halloween scene is set! Get extra points if you upcycle decorations. We have all seen these gallon ghosts  illuminate driveways and front porches. If you must buy decorations, purchase ones you can reuse ever year. Also, avoid plastic decorations that can house toxic chemicals like BPA and PVC.

Tip 5: Compost That Jack-o’-Lantern For Next Year

Halloween is an excellent time to try composting! Use any organic material around your house or yard like leaves, food scraps, and even those decomposing jack-o’-lanterns! Grow your pumpkins for next year, with your pumpkins from last year! You’ll be helping to cut down on the 1.1 billion pounds of annual pumpkin waste by composting yours, and saving a few bucks next fall when you grow your own pumpkin patch.

Tip 6: Maintain the Momentum

Living a green lifestyle shouldn’t stop on November 1. There are countless way to reduce waste and help the planet each day. You’ll find how simple it’s to make eco-conscious choices, and apply them to all holidays and aspects of your life. Don’t be sacred, you can do it! 

Remember how we suggested applying green initiatives to your every day life? Why not start with us? FundingFactory is a 100% free fundraising-thru-recycling program that pays you for your printer cartridges and small electronics. Since  1997, we have made quite an impact.  Register and start greening your school, community, or nonprofit today!

Resources:

http://holidays.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/10/green_halloween.php

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycled-halloween-costume-470708?click=pp

http://visual.ly/halloween-statistics-2012-creepy-calculations

We are constantly applying earth-friendly initiatives throughout our office and warehouse to ensure we practice what we preach. Here are five ways that FundingFactory has chosen to lead the eco-revolution by example:

• In 2011, 99 percent of everything that came into our facility was recycled. That statistic includes not only includes the e-waste that you send in, but also the cardboard boxes, filling, and plastic that you ship it in.

• In our break rooms we have four bins: plastic, paper, aluminum, and landfill.

• We reuse plates, cups, and silverware. No paper or plastic here!

• We partner with organizations that make sustainability a priority.

• We installed auto off switches in all areas of the building. If there is no movement in an office or specified warehouse area for 15 minutes or more the lights automatically go out saving electricity daily.

How simple are those? Consider applying these green initiatives to your school, business, church, or nonprofit! Those initiatives have given us R2 (Responsible Recycling), and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Certifications. FundingFactory has rescued more than 40 million pounds of e-waste from being landfilled.

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Looking for a way to fund a field trip this year? How about purchasing a new printer in the copy room? Maybe you need some renovations completed at your organization? Let FundingFactory help you accomplish those tasks by using our fundraising-thru-recycling program. Review our Qualifying List to see the  items we recycle. It’s items like printer cartridges and small electronics can spell cash and rewards once you resister!