How do you feel about recycling? While the three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) are meant to minimize the amount of waste ending up in land fills, many of us fall short. We recycle only when it is most convenient. All trash is not equal; there are many items that could be reused, such as gently used clothing, or processed through recycling channels to be remade into something new. It can be difficult to start a new habit. If you are not currently recycling as consistently as you would like, read below for a few tips to get you started.
What to Recycle: Plastic, Paper, Cans, and Glass.
Do you know what is acceptable to recycle and what is not? Food waste is no-no. But the (cleaned!) plastic bowls, bottles, and bags that food is sold in are perfect. Paper items, such as cardboard, magazines, newspapers, and other discarded paper miscellany are great for recycling. Throwing these items in the recycling bin can also save room, as these discarded items can take up quite a bit of space.
You might wonder if throwing your old shoe box in the recycling bin instead of the regular trash can can really make a difference. You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that. The numbers break down as so: about 9 cubic yards of landfill space are saved for every one ton of waste recycled. That comes out to about 40 square feet.
Recycling Made Easy: Weekly Garbage Pickup Tips.
Recycling is easy if you strive to make it a habit. First, make sure you know what can be recycled and what can’t; if you are unsure, check your local waste management’s web site for a list and further instructions. Next, have a dedicated bin for recycling, and keep it near the trash can to make things easy. If you have to take items somewhere else, it is likely you and other household members will forget and not stay consistent.
Do Your Part to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
There have been naysayers in the past who insist that recycling does not really help reduce our carbon footprint. Let’s be clear: when even just hundreds of thousands of people decide to do something, it makes an impact. Your recycling can make a difference, especially when you consider that the average person creates about four pounds of trash each day, just during regular activities.
Be green. Take the time to find out what items you throw out that could be recycled instead. Make the process of recycling easier on yourself and stay committed to being consistent. It’s a small step, but an important one.