Recycling Made Easy

You’re an environmentally conscious person, but the pace of life may make you think recycling is too much hassle or effort to do. But as the phrase goes, if we all do a little, we all do a lot. There are many little things you can do to make recycling a regular part of your life.

Your first step is to see what kind of recycling infrastructure is already available in your community. Does your city have a recycling program where you can leave it at your curb, or are there nearby sites where you can drop off items to be recycled? What types of items are taken, how do they need to be sorted, and what packaging does it need to be in if it’s a curbside service?

Once you’ve determined the answers to those questions, you can set up a system in your house that best fits what is already in place for you. Look at what products you normally consume, as it’s pointless knowing whether there’s an aluminum can program if you never use them. Things that are easy to recycle are paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, and aluminum. The place you’re recycling through (either the drop-off place or the service that picks it up) will have a list of what they accept and how they need to be separated (if at all – some services take everything and separate it themselves).

The set up of a system at home will be the most difficult part, but once you get in the habit of recycling it will seem much less an issue. You’ll need containers to keep the items to recycle. If it’s a curbside service, they often supply the containers as part of the service. But if dropping off, you’ll need to look into buying containers.

When devising your system, if you have to keep items separated, it makes sense to have a separate container for each item, although there are some containers out there that have different sections as well. Separating them as you go will save you significant time.

Keep in mind whether paper has to be separated out by type, as some programs require you to separate out newspaper from office paper. Some items, such as aluminum cans and cardboard boxes, need to be broken down before recycling, which can also determine the setup of your system. With plastic, you’ll also need to know if they accept #1 and #2 plastics and whether they need to be separated by type.

Make sure the container is plastic, as not only will it help with items that need to be rinsed out such as glass, aluminum, and plastic, but are more durable and will last you longer than cardboard boxes. Another tip is to make sure the container has some sort of handles for easy carrying or has wheels – much more important of a requirement if you have to take the items elsewhere to recycle. If you’re recycling several different types of products, it’s recommended to label which box is which, so you have a consistency after emptying it.

Make sure the box is the right size for you. Keep in mind your level of consumption, how often either the pickup is or that you’re willing to drop it off, and how much you can carry. The container for your newspaper needs to be big enough to keep the paper flat, as that will help maximize the space. Meanwhile, if you plan on recycling small things such as batteries, it can be smaller than a typical recycling container.

While it sounds like you need a large area available, it doesn’t have to be. If you have a garage, it can take up a corner that is unused. If you don’t have a garage, designating an area in your kitchen is just as easy. If you don’t have a lot of space, look at what your biggest products are and start out small by just recycling one or two.

If you plan on recycling items that need to be rinsed out first (aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass), make sure you have an area in your kitchen set aside for drying the items before they go into the recycle bins.

If you plan on using a can crusher, you can mount it near where you plan on keeping the container. If you intend to recycle cardboard boxes, you’ll want to have a box cutter or similar knife available and near where your area is to make the process of breaking it down easier.

Once you get a system installed into your home, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to recycle most of the products you consume. And pretty soon, it will be a part of your routine, making it not something you even think about.  You’ll also be amazed at how much less trash you’re putting out each week, and you can feel proud that you’re contributing less to the landfill.