Start the New Year Out Right

For many of us beginning to recycle may seem like an extreme challenge. But, it isn’t. It just takes a bit of time and self motivation that many of us seem to lack.

Many cities have implemented programs that are starting to make a difference, but they need our help to go that extra step.

Every time we walk into a store, we pay for material that can be recycled, renewed or reused. For example; a tub of butter, you can reuse the butter tub for putting leftovers in. A milk jug can be turned into an easy weekend watering container or how about a funnel for paint. The packaging that is on your child’s toy. The paper backing can be placed in with other paper products to be recycled and you can attempt to recycle the plastic window covering too.

It only takes a small amount of time to begin your own recycling program at home. You can do so for little to no cost.

To begin, simply start off with 3 cardboard boxes. You don’t need big ones either. If you have children you can get them involved in your home program, have them decorate up the boxes that you plan to use. The boxes should be listed as; paper, plastic and metal, glass. These are the basic and can take the shortest amount of time to collect in your home. You will find that you have a lot of this and will be shocked at how quickly they fill up. Be sure to line the boxes with a plastic bag. This will keep any liquid from potential leaking through and ruining the cardboard or your floors.

Find out from your trash collector if they have a special recycling program for your home. They may be able to bring you out a bin or 2 to set your recycling in outside on your collection day. Unfortunately, it is more difficult for apartment dwellers, but, if you plan, you can still carry on with your own program. Simply find out when your recycling center is open, or find the nearest drop off points in your area. Maybe you can talk to your landlord about starting a program for your complex.

When your in house bins are full, take the material out and dump it into your outdoor bin. This could be set up as a chore for your children.

Don’t forget to recycle when you are away from home, for example your office, find out what you can do to establish a recycling a program there. There are programs established for printer cartridges that you can get your business signed up for, paper recycling, how about in the break room, for aluminum cans from soft drinks.

Don’t forget to reuse some of that paper you are recycling, you can always use the back of sheets of paper, you can also reuse some of the newspaper that you might use, it works great to clean windows, the paper is thin enough that makes it biodegradable. Depending on what you use to clean the windows, you may not want to put this back in your recycling bin. But, if you are using for example vinegar, this will be fine, this is a natural product and won’t cause any issues in the recycling of the paper.

If we can save our environment one person at a time, it will mean a world of good for our children and their children to come. Even today, the small amount of recycling that has taken place has helped, it has provided additional funds for our schools. Many schools will receive additional funds from their own recycling programs. This is usually given by the state or federal government. But, now, there are other companies that are starting to build special relations with schools through out the United States that also help.

So come on, help your environment, start up your own recycling program in your home today.