Everyone knows how important it is to recycle, but is everyone doing it in the most effective way? Unless you work for a waste management company, the answer is probably no. But don’t worry, there are ways you can maximize the effectiveness of your recycling.
Here are a few tips to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle like the pros.
Know What Can and Can’t be Recycled
Before you can say you recycle like a professional, you need to know what you can and can’t recycle in your area. Each city has a specific set of rules that mandates what can and can’t be put in the recycling bin for garbage pickup day. In addition, you should stick to city or state-regulated recycling programs, as other privately-owned programs can actually cause more harm than good.
Reduce Your Consumption
Unfortunately, people tend to pay more attention to the “reuse and recycle” part of the slogan than the “reduce” part. Reducing the amount of waste you produce has a huge impact on recycling. Instead of disposable water bottles, buy a reusable one. Simple things like saving take out containers can really make a difference in the amount of recyclable material that ends up in the trash.
Start a Compost Bin
People have been recycling biological waste for a long time, and it’s relatively simple. All of those banana peels, egg shells, and even coffee grounds can all go into a compost bin in your yard. You can use it to fertilize a garden or donate it to a community garden. Some people even use it to enrich the mulch they spread on their gardens in the spring. Whatever you choose to do with it, it’s a great way to keep reusable waste from garbage pickup.
Consolidate Garbages
The fewer trash bins you have, the better. If you have one or two central garbage cans, it’s much easier to keep track of where your recyclables are going. Waste bins in the bedroom might seem like a good idea, but unless it’s cold season and you’re going through a hundred tissues a minute, you can probably skip it for the greater good.
Don’t forget to put these tips into play before the next garbage pickup day rolls around!
