Don’t Throw It Away this Holiday Season!

We know this seems like an odd title coming from a dumpster company, but our new storage pod expansion, recycling roots and holiday cheer have led us to think “recycle” or “donate” before throwing away our old clothes We have put together a few ways to clean, recycle and give this holiday season we know you’ll love.

Let’s Talk Fashion: As the kids grow older their clothes are bound to be left in the back of closet collecting dust. Instead of abandoning them in the closet here are some options:

-       Reuse! If those old jeans are too short but still fit around the waist, try hemming them to make shorts! If a skirt is too short, try adding fabric to the bottom for a fabulous two-toned masterpiece! Check out more great ideas from this pinterest page!

-       Plan a party! If you have clothes that don’t fit anymore, but are still in great condition plan a swap party! Invite friends and family over for some chips and dip and trade your clothes! This saves money, gives you a great new wardrobe and is a fantastic excuse to get together with your loved ones!

-       Dye it! We’ve all been there, the unwanted red shirt in the white load of laundry and all your whites are now pink and spotty. Instead of calling it a loss you can embrace the pink, or go to your local craft store and purchase some dye to make those whites a new bold color! An even more fun activity with the kids would be a tie dying afternoon! Because, who doesn’t love a tie-dyed shirt?

-       Donate! This holiday season there are many people in need. If you have old clothes that don’t fit and are in good condition, look up your local shelter or clothing donation organization to give to those in need. It’s going to be a cold winter so donate those old coats that don’t fit anymore! GPOD proudly works with Charities of Hope, which provides monetary donations to other non-profits through the donations of clothes.  

This holiday season take out those old clothes and do something productive! We know we will be going through our closets to see what we can do to help this year!

Don't forget for every "Like" GPOD receives on Facebook this month we will donate one canned good to the Trumbull Food Pantry! AND for everyone who "Likes" us AND orders a Dumpster or Storage Pod we will donate a BRAND NEW SWEATSHIRT to Charities of Hope or The Thrift Store! So “Like” us on Facebook and tell your friends!

The Power of Paying it Forward

This Thanksgiving Season GPOD is promoting the pay it forward phenomenon. Paying it forward simply means: after receiving a good deed forwarding a good deed to someone else. But don’t think you have to receive a favor to start this going! While standing in that Starbucks line that seems to get longer every fall, offer to pay for a strangers drink. Or, after raking your own lawn take a few minutes to rake your neighbors lawn as well. It’s the simple things that can brighten someone’s day!

This is dear to our hearts because we pay it forward every day by recycling 80% of the waste we collect. We work hard so that your waste doesn’t destroy our beloved environment and so future generations can enjoy a beautiful, clean planet.

This year we asked ourselves what can we do together to pay it forward? We decided, with every new “like” GPOD receives on our Facebook page a canned good will be donated to the Trumbull, CT Food Pantry. The Trumbull Food Pantry collects food for lower income families unable to afford groceries. The past few years have been tough and the Food Pantry has received more and more families in need. If you would like to make another donation yourself click here. So check out our Facebook here and tell your friends and family about this great opportunity!

So, this Thanksgiving Season we urge you to Pay It Forward! Let us know in the comment section below or on Facebook what you did to pay it forward! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Have a Clean & Green Halloween!

Have a Clean & Green Halloween!

Halloween is a spectacular event, but can become very pricey and environmentally damaging! GPOD is a proud supporter of the environment and we have some tips on how to stay clean and green this Halloween Season!

Reusable Trick-Or-Treat Bags – Don’t send your kids out trick-or-treating with a plastic, non recyclable bag! Look for eco-friendly, reusable bags that will last for years to come and won’t destroy the environment.

Plastic bags use millions of gallons of fossil fuels to produce and end up as litter, which kills millions of animals each year. Paper bag production uses 14 million trees a year! Opt for festive bags like a Halloween ChicoBag. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they will hold better and longer than a plastic or paper bag! Buy them online here or at a store near you!

Do-It-Yourself Costumes – Why spend good money on a costume your kids will only wear once? Instead, make a costume together! Take an afternoon to spend time with your kids and make a costume they will love and appreciate. Head to your local thrift shop or use clothes you already own to whip up something magical! Or you can set up a costume swap with your friends and their kids! Free and fun!

Give Organic – Rather than filling the neighborhood kids with unhealthy, non-environmentally friendly candy, shop for organic candy that tastes just as sweet without the stomachache! Also, buy locally when you can to boost your local economy and help out a neighbor. Not big on any kind of candy? Hand out colored pencils or crayons to keep the kids busy all year long!

Throw a Green Halloween Party – Instead of splurging on harmful decorations look around your house. Use old sheets for ghostly appearances and think local for pumpkin carving and bobbing for apples. Serve organic foods for healthy fun and use dishes, utensils and napkins that can be washed and used again. Save any strictly Halloween décor for next year and get more bang for your buck! Also teach your kids to throw away and recycle any candy wrappers they have acquired while at their own Halloween festivities!

But don’t stop there! Keep going green all year long! Become a regular at the local farmers market and learn to compost old foods. Think of reusing old clothing and upcycling for new designs, or setting up a clothing swap with your friends!

And don’t forget to use GPOD for any dumpster or storage pod services. We recycle 80% of the waste we collect and keep an environmentally friendly storage service customized for convenience.

Think “Recycle” for Back to School Supplies!

It’s that time of the year again! Fall is on the horizon and back to school shopping is on the brain! We know this is a stressful time and those back to school supplies can add up to a pretty penny, so we have some tips to keep you on your A game!

-       LOOK BACK. First, go through last year’s supplies to see what needs to be thrown out and what can be reused. Is every pen out of ink? Are all your pencil’s now stubs? Did your children use all the notebook paper?

-       RECYCLE. All those old supplies that you can’t use could be used somewhere else! Find out where you can recycle paper, pens, and other supplies near you!

-       MAKE A LIST. Before hitting the store make a list of things you need and try to stick to only the list when at the stores. Those bright colors and new gadgets are hard to resist but keep your eye on the prize!

-       BUY RECYCLED. Join the green trend and buy recycled items. Recycled items range from backpacks to paper so ask your local store where you can find green back to school supplies. We know Target and Office Max are a great place to start!

-       WEAR GREEN. Back to school clothes are a must have in a child’s wardrobe. Instead of hitting the stores, set up a swap with friends or family. Kids grow out of clothes quickly so those barely worn jeans might fit your children perfectly!

-       BREATHE FRESH AIR. Look for nontoxic items such as ink and art supplies, water based paints and batteries with little mercury. Also look for the closest bus stop instead of driving your children to school. Think about carpooling with neighbors too.

Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to kick off the school year right! If you need help throwing away last years large science projects, or debris from summer home improvement projects, trust GPOD with your dumpster needs! Have a great school year everybody!

GPOD Tricks of the Trade!

Here at GPOD we want you to have the best dumpster rental experience. We make it simple and easy for you to get rid of trash in your home that’s been accumulating throughout the years. But, we need YOUR HELP to make this process a walk in the park! Here are a few tips you need to know before renting a dumpster:

PLEASE DO NOT OVERFLOW DUMPSTERS! Lose debris can cause injuries to loved ones, neighbors and GPOD employees. An overflowing dumpster can also cause accidents on the road! GPOD clearly places “Do Not Fill Past This Point” stickers on each dumpster FOR YOUR SAFETY! We simply cannot take dumpsters that have been filled passed their limit.

WE ARE BUSY SO WE CAN’T SHOW UP AT AN EXACT TIME! As much as we would love to be able to pick up your dumpster at 3pm sharp, each delivery takes a different, unknown amount of time. With traffic and other roadblocks it makes it impossible for us to give an exact time of pick up, so please be patient. If you call us the day of the delivery we can narrow the time down, so you can better adjust your schedule. Thank you so much for your understanding and patience.

COMMUNICATE COMMUNICATE COMMUNICATE! Please don’t hesitate to call us any time with questions or concerns. If you’re not sure about where to put your dumpster, what goes in it or anything else, one of our friendly employees will help you find those answers. There will be an additional charge if our drivers have to come back to your home for any reason, so write clear, precise directions, make sure the driver has easy access to the dumpster and let us know if you need the dumpster for a longer period of time.

WATCH YOUR WEIGHT! If your dumpster is overweight there will be an additional charge, so be sure to keep an eye on this. Also, take water weight into consideration. Cover your dumpster when it rains, or allow a few days before pick up to let the dumpster dry out.

WHAT CAN YOU PUT IN YOUR DUMPSTER?

Items that can be placed in the dumpster but will incur additional charges:
• Car Tires
• Truck Tires

• Propane Tanks
• Freon Units (A/C, refrigerators, freezers, etc.)

• Television/Computer Monitors
• Mattresses/Box springs

• Paint Cans - need to be DOUBLE BAGGED & PLACED ON TOP OF DUMPSTER.

WHAT CAN’T I PUT IN YOUR DUMPSTER?

Hazardous Waste materials: Pesticides, Oils, Fuels, etc.

Here at GPOD we want you to have a great experience renting our dumpsters so be sure to keep these tips in mind!

When Mother Nature Strikes...

Mother Nature is an unpredictable parent who can bring warm sunny days as well as cause great destruction. Lately we have been hit with some severe natural disasters. The Oklahoma tornado tragedies come with horrific pictures of crumbled homes and stories of children in danger. Hurricane Sandy hit close to home while destroying our Eastern Shoreline and causing massive power outages in large cities like New York and Philadelphia. But when Mother Nature has a bad day, who is there to clean up her mess? Dumpster services like GPOD are here to serve our community and straighten up after Mother Nature strikes.

• After calling GPOD to take away the big debris, here are some tips on how to keep safe while cleaning up after a natural disaster.
•   Do not go near or enter a building that has not been inspected by a professional
• Wear construction gear such as hard hats, goggles and work gloves to protect yourself
• Stay away from anything that contains carbon monoxide. This dangerous gas can cause severe illness and death, leave it to professionals in gas masks to take care of your stove, heaters etc.
• Discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected
• Don’t turn on any electrical devices, especially after a disaster dealing with water!
• Be sure to have a first aid kit on hand in case of any cuts or abrasions. Infections are more common when working in a dirty environment

GPOD is proud to offer their services after any natural disasters. Sandy is not the first and certainly will not be last natural disaster to occur on the East Coast, and GPOD will always be around to help out! Disaster areas all around the world are still trying to get back on their feet, so be sure to donate to the red cross or another recognized charity that aids recovery when Mother Nature hits hard!

DIG IN TO A HEALTHY, HAPPY SUMMER

It’s that time of year again! Time to break out the pruners and weed whackers and start digging into the garden. But this year, why not try something different? Why not try a vegetable garden! Not only is growing your own food a healthier and cheaper choice, but imagine how great it will feel to walk out back and pick fresh tomatoes, peppers or carrots! It may be easier than you think. Here are some tips!

What to grow?

It’s best to start out small with your first vegetable garden. Do some research on what you would like to grow. Tomatoes and peppers will grow throughout the season, while carrots and radishes only produce once. So plan accordingly.  Also, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone you live in to see which crops grow best.

How much space?

Once you decide what to grow, determining how much space you need is important. Keep in mind you don’t need much space for a vegetable garden. You don’t even need a yard, growing vegetables in containers works well too. Research how much space you need for each vegetable you are growing. That will help your garden grow and prosper! Think about protecting your garden from rabbits or raccoons with a fence.

Where to grow?

When determining where to grow keep in mind these helpful tips. Vegetables need, plenty of sun and water. Vegetables require at least 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight to sustain produce. Invest in good, healthy soil. Consider amending the soil with compost for better results.

But most important have fun, spend time with family and share with friends! Growing a vegetable garden is a family activity! Teach the young ones about healthy food choices and have fun in the sun!

So, what is the first step? Ordering a greens dumpster from GPOD to get rid of the old, dead yard waste, and while you’re at it let us take away your junk from the basement or attack! We make it easy to order online or call us at 866-771-4763.

Be happy and healthy and enjoy your new vegetable garden this summer!

The difference between upcyling and recycling and how you can help!

What is this new word “upcycle” that has been popping up everywhere?! Well, it’s actually not so new but it’s finally starting to catch on! Upcyling is when waste materials are converted into new products of better quality for the environment. Just a refresher, recycling is using waste materials for new products to prevent excess waste.

 Here at GPOD we are proud to upcycle. If there is a way to take your waste and turn it into something more productive and useful we will find it! We believe in making the world a better, healthier place, so 80% of our waste is recycled OR upcycled.

To inspire you to start upcycling we have posted some cool upcycling projects below. Also, don’t forget to take a look at the pinterest page “Upcycle and Re-Purposing” below, which has even more great ideas!

 

http://pinterest.com/candacefox/upcycle-and-re-purposing/

Happy Earth Day 4.54 Billion Years Later!

This April, join GPOD in celebrating Earth Day! On April 22nd over 1 billion people will be celebrating the Earth! It’s no secret our planet has been damaged by pollution and other toxic waste, but imagine what could be done when people all over the world come together to help. This year, the Earth Day Network (EDN) proclaimed the theme for Earth Day would be “The Face of Climate Change.” Many people believe climate change is a remote problem, but people, animals and environments around the world are already being affected. So what can you do to help? Well, first the EDN will collect and display pictures and videos of people, animals and places that have been directly influenced by climate change. Go to http://www.earthday.org/2013/ to share your story and post your pictures. So, what if you don’t have a picture or story? Well join one of the millions of events around the world that will take place on April 22nd that will help heal the earth. Now, what is GPOD doing for the earth? For starters, we recycle 80% of all the waste we collect, all year ‘round! Not only do we recycle but we upcycle as well! Research what your local community is doing to celebrate Earth Day and join the fun!

Spring has sprung. Have you cleaned out the clutter yet?

Getting ready for spring-cleaning? It’s that time of year again where that old junk from the basement, garage or attack has got to go. Clutter means stress and who needs more stress? With all that junk cleared from your home, you have more space to let in that warm air and make new memories. A clean, clutter free, home means a happy and healthy family. If you’re not using something, sell it, or dispose of it properly with GPOD. Our same and next day dumpster service makes it quick and easy to discard those old, unused items you’ve been meaning to throw out for years. Not only are our prices convertible but there is no fuel charge on any dumpster rental and no hidden fees! We pride ourselves on exceptional service and making our customers our number one priority. Planning to remodel or start a home improvement project? Let us take care of the waste for you. Worried about where your waste is going? 80% of all your waste will be recycled when using GPOD. Now that sounds like a great, guilt free way to clean the house! Not ready to get rid of valuables, but no room in your home? We offer 12ft & 16ft storage containers. You can be sure your items are safe and secure with our storage units. Don’t put off spring-cleaning! Order your GPOD dumpster today!