Most communities have recycling programs in place to save space in landfills. Recycling is not hard and in the long run everyone benefits from it. If you just want to recycle glass and plastic, you have a great opportunity to help save the planet.
Here are ten ways you can help:
(1) Reuse Then Recycle: Try to reuse items several times before recycling them. Plastic yogurt cups are great for starting plants in, Styrofoam egg crates can be stored Christmas ornaments in; Glass pasta sauce jars are great for storing soups and plastic bottles can be made into bird feeders. Reusing things a few times before recycling them helps everyone, including Mother Earth.
(2) Cardboard: For cereal, textile cartons, milk containers and other cardboard items Break them up (flatten them) and put them in a large cardboard box. Pittsburgh recycling has to be picked up every other week, so we usually have a full box by then. Recycle all cardboard to save space in landfills. I was so neurotic about it that I even recycled frozen food with them and found plastic straws.
(3) Aluminum Cans: Aluminum cans. In California there is a CRV (cash redemption value) tax on most items that are recyclable. You pay tax when the goods are bought then you can easily take them to a small amount, spend them and pay for them. On the east coast the value of aluminum and other metals has fallen but there is no CRV. Shred the cans once a week so they take up less space and cash them once a month.
(4) Plastic Bottles: Before being recycled can be returned. Use the water for your garden or feed them in feeders. You can also use them for science projects, storing nuts and bolts and screws. Compress the bottles so they take up less space and see if you have to remove the plastic screw tops before. recycling.
(5) Newspapers: Most schools and non-profit organizations have large bins where you can drop off your newspapers. They pay a ton for them and use the money for supplies and field trips. Try starting a coupon recycling group in your area. If enough people are interested, you can save big on your save your grocery bill. If you have more than twenty or more people interested in it, contact your local to see if they have a conversation. A room you can use for meeting and exchanging coupons.
(6) Computers & Electronics: Instead of just throwing away a computer or television, consider donating it to charity or contacting a trade school that teaches kids and adults the art of repairing such an item. If, in the operation of the order, we pass it on to someone who needs it, but cannot afford a new one. Also check the freecycle search pages, there are always people looking for televisions, stereos and computers and when you pass it on to someone else, there is less to rot ending up in the landfill. Some areas have battery recycling unless you drop them off for a month or so. The same goes for computer printer ink cartridges. Staples offers a redemption program where $3.00 (store credit) for each empty ink cartridge you bring it to the grocery store.
(7) Clothes: I hate throwing away clothes if they are in good shape. You can donate them to the church or help the emergency unit such as displaced people, fire victims and homeless. If you throw away items or have a pile of clothes that you just don’t wear, you can call local veterans charities to come pick them up. A part of the garment is to be used by the sick; others are sold so that others make extra cash.
(8) Books: Consider taking your books to your local library. They can’t add them to their stacks, but they have to use them when they book sales. If you’re going on vacation for a week or more, consider donating your home school newspaper subscription or hosting. Magazines recycle-paper”>recycle with your paper can be picked up or donated by reading programs.
(9) Junk Mail: 90% of junk mail can be recycle with your paper goods . Make sure nothing is personal in it; bank and credit card statements, payment reminders, guarantees and other items that include personal information should never be added to recycled items unless they are hateful. If you really want to help out the local circle of contacts who are sending you junk mail, tell them to remove your name from their list. Verizon and Comcast are the two biggest offenders; I get at least two recommendations from Verizon a week and about five a month from Comcast. Their prices are so high for what they deserve!
(10) Cellular Phones: Even if you haven’t had service on them in years, There are organizations that can use them. Contact battered and abused women shelters; always accepting phone donations. Women who are victims of abuse and domestic violence are given the opportunity to contact the police if they are in a dangerous situation. I don’t think it’s possible to get a job.
So there are ten easy ways to recycle, some even put a little money outside your pocket. If your community does not have a recycling program in place, contact your local representatives to get started. save money on dumping and landfill fees and help save the planet.
