Recycling has become a huge part of our society, and everyone should do their part in making sure that our environment is taken care of for future generations. It will help reserve natural resources and save energy that benefits everything that lives on the planet earth. We are seeing more and more goods being manufactured from recyclable materials, and it just goes to show that everyone is trying to do their part. You can do yours by recycling things around your home such as plastic, newspapers, glass, aluminum, and cardboard boxes. For items not picked up by a local recycling company, such as shoes, glasses, computers, cell phones, check out stores that help consumers recycle.
The very first step in this process is obtaining a recycling bin or recycling basket and getting in the habit of using it. In addition to getting yourself in motion to recycle every day, you should also find other applications for things that are used in your house. For example, an empty coffee container can be used for recycling your engine oil or a lunchmeat container can be used as a makeshift Tupperware container.
There are three things to keep in mind when starting a recycling program in your home. The first of the three should be reducing the waste you produce every week. Try and reuse materials such as using real dinnerware (not paper plates), using towels and rags instead of paper towels, or reusing any container that you receive from any consumer product.
The second rule of thumb when building a good home recycling program is to mandate the use of recycling bins. If you have a larger home, try and keep bins in several places like the garage, backyard, laundry room, etc. Using multiple bins will not only keep the recyclables segregated, it will always be a constant reminder to be good to the planet.
The third and most obvious thing that you will need to complete this process is someone to take the recyclables away. If you are not fortunate enough to live in an area that has weekly pickup, you will need to find another avenue in getting your recycled material to the right place. You can either find a private entity or inquire with your local recycling company as to the necessary steps involved in getting your materials picked up or dropped off. This step causes the most pitfalls but is the most monumental. An estimated 70% of waste that is buried in the ground could have been recycled, and only we have the power to make that better.
Having a recycling program in your home is a great way to ensure the safety of our environment for the future. Only good things happen when you take the time to recycle and if you haven’t already, it’s never too late to start.