How to Start Recycling

Go Green in 2014: Week 1

My first 'going green' challenge was to start recycling.

Copyright: chrissatchwell / http://www.flickr.com/photos/csatch/

When I learned that my city charges a monthly $2.25 recycling pick-up fee, regardless of whether or not I actually use the service, deciding to start recycling was a no-brainer.

And, it really is easy!

Signing up for curbside pickup

The first step was to visit my city's website and learn more about the curbside collection of comingled recyclables. I needed to find out how I could get a recycling bin and sign up for the weekly collection. Finding the information was easy once I found my city's website. I located a phone number and email address for the solid waste department, and sent them an email inquiring about how to get one of the blue bins with a yellow lid.

I got a response almost immediately, informing me that we had been added to the recycling pick-up list, and that the container would be delivered to our house the following week. Much to our surprise, the container showed up that very same week!

What can be recycled?

The hard part was over, and it wasn't so hard, after all. Now, I just needed to start saving my recyclables and setting them out on the curb (or, in our case, next to the alley). We were instructed to wait until the recycling bin was at least a third full before setting it out, due to the fact that they are lightweight and will easily fall over.

How can you find out what is recyclable and what is not?

There is a list of items that can be recycled right on the bin itself, but I also found a list on my city's website. It may or may not be the exact same as yours, so you will need to find out from the solid waste department in your town. However, the following list is a pretty good guide to the things you can place in a comingled recycling bin:

• clean and dry paper
• flattened cardboard boxes
• clean and dry plastic containers (must have the recycling triangle)
• plastic grocery bags (placed together inside one plastic bag)
• clean aluminum, tin, and metal
• clean aluminum foil and foil pans

There is also a pretty specific list of items that can NOT be placed in the comingled recycling bin. To find out how to recycle specific household items, visit the Earth911 website. You will find a wonderful guide to properly disposing of automotive fluids, electronics, glass, cooking oils, and more.

If you do not have a curbside pick-up of comingled recyclables, you will need find out where your city's recycling center is located, and make sure your recycled goods are pre-sorted if required.

How to get started recycling

To recap:

1. Visit your city's website to learn how it handles recycling. Find out whether you have the option for curbside pick-up or whether you will need to pre-sort the recyclables and bring them to a recycling center.
2. If you are given a choice, consider signing up for curbside pick-up. It's the easiest option, and will save you a trip to the city's recycling center.
3. Get an indoor recycling collection bin. It can be anything you have around the house: a specially-marked trash can, or whatever you can find. I am starting out with a plastic milk crate; it's small and lightweight, and it has built-in handles.
4. Learn about what can be recycled - and what can not. Make sure to flatten cardboard boxes and to remove the lids from plastic containers. Everything should be clean and dry.
5. Start recycling! Once your indoor bin is full, dump its contents into the outdoor recycling container and start the process over. 

Copyright: UofSLibrary / http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityofscrantonlibrary/

It doesn't get any easier. If I had known how simple it would be back when the city started this new recycling program last summer, I would have signed up much earlier.

It's never too late to start, though.

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Your challenge: This week, visit your city's website to learn more about their recycling program.

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Recycling around the world

Known for their passion for recycling, Sweden goes one step further than anyone else, powering a quarter of a million homes with burnt up waste. The city's garbage is used to create heat and electricity, but they've recently found themselves in a bit of a pickle: they've run out of garbage! --read more--

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**