Make a difference and start a recycling project in your building

My wife Norma, our two-year old Norfolk Terrier, Happy Gilmore, and I live in a 24-unit condominium building in Hoboken. Like other buildings, we carefully adhere to recycling our trash. It often amazed me how many useful items were simply tossed into the garbage. Many perfectly good toys, clothing, appliances and small furnishings were just being trashed. So the question was "how do we turn this problem into a real opportunity?" We found an abandoned storage bin, labeled it Toys 4 Tots, clothing etc. for the charity of your choice. A permanent notice was placed on the bulletin board. We empty the bin about every three weeks (it's usually full) and a car load of recycled items goes to local charities like The Salvation Army and a local women's shelter, for example. Our residents now have another opportunity to give back to the community's families that may be in need of assistance. I have no idea what impact an organized program like this would have on landfills, the environment and cost of hauling the garbage. It's a no-brainer! Why not try it in your building? You will make a difference! Robert De Ruggiero is broker/president of Robert De Ruggiero Inc. Realtors, Union City, N.J.