Recycling

Nowadays it's easier than ever to recycle things you don't use. Freecycle, curbside recycling, chairty programs.....there is no excuse not to recycle. Lately I've made it a mission to try to keep our trash as minimal as possible. I look at the houses nearby, and see 7 or 8 trashbags at different houses each week, and it just boggles my mind. Only once or twice a year do we ever have more than 2 bags a week (family of 3), and many times it's only 1 bag. Part of that is because we don't buy much and part is that I make sure we use what we have "to the last drop," so to speak.

To recycle more, I've done a couple things. First, I went to my city's website and looked up what can and cannot be recycled. I didn't remember that I could recycle magazines, so whenever I have a magazine that can't be passed on (usually because I've ripped out recipes or articles), it's now being recycled along with the newspaper. Second, I pay more attention to the little codes on the bottom of plastics. There are things that I presumed could not be recycled that actually can. If there is a 1 or a 2 in the triangle, you're always good, but still, check with whoever takes your recycling. Some places take 3, 4 and 5 plastics too. Third, I've recycled electronics through our local schools. In the middle school, the applied science classes spend time taking apart things to see how they work. This is great especially for things that don't work any more, like TVs, DVD players, even computer components. Vocational classes at high schools or vocational schools are thrilled to get lawn mowers and other small engine machines to take apart and work on. Your local Red Cross, women's shelter and/or homeless shelter may have a need for furniture and household goods you no longer need. And this time of year, many nonprofit organizations are thrilled to get unused items to sell at a fundraising yard sale.

There are many ways to keep things out of the landfill. Hopefully I will continue to be able to decrease our trash and even benefit others in the process.