Recycle bins

[jamesong55]

Ok I'm going to take the plunge and start to recycle: Until now I've used every excuse there is ie.... not enough time, too much of a hastle, garbage pick up isn't that expensive... So if you would like to kick me (like I would) go ahead. But in the mean time I got a hold of the local recycle place and found out what all they take and I am IMPRESSED. So how do you organize it without things being cluttered. I have a laundry room where I can put most of it but still the daycare parents can see in there so any container ideas???? Or routines that would help??

Thanks

Tina

[Penuche]

Cans and bottles get tossed into a trash can and then emptied into the bins outside as needed. Paper and cardboard goes into a box and gets bundled for pickup each week. Once you get started, it might take a few tries to get the configuration you like best, but it's worth it!

[Rebecca]

I have 2 bins from the town (essentially big plastic tubs). One is for mixed paper and the other is for all plastics/aluminum/tin/glass. I keep them either outside my back door or in my garage. We don't need to separate out any more than that.

[MeghansDad]

Just find a suitable bin, any type will do.

Around here our home depot sells the blue recycling bins. they are about 12x12x18

whatever bin you choose just be sure it can handle your local weather conditions

[wendinbill]

We put our old kitchen garbage can down at the bottom of the basement steps (right off of the kitchen), and put a smaller garbage can in the kitchen. I can't believe how much less we throw out! Anyhow, I rinse cans, bottles, etc, and set them on the counter-then next trip to the basement I take them with me. Here they all go in one container (glass, plastic, soup cans) so that helps. Beer/pop cans go in a bucket under the sink, then get emptied into a big can in the garage. DS collects them for $$. Paper gets burned, b/c we use an outdoor woodburner for heating our home/water. I would find out if you have to seperate them or not, b/c I was doing that & when I took them to the recycling center, they were all in one giant bin. :

[tracyhos]

We use these:
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/id/122722.do

They are set of 3 stacking bins. They are in my garage. I just have open the back door, its right off my kitchen, and they are there. So it's a super convenient location. I would check into your local recycling situation/ rules. See what they take and what they don't. If they are super strict about sorting, or if you can just dump it all in one.

I use my 3 like this. Biggest one (on the bottom of the stack) is for paper/cardboard. That is what we go through the most of. It is full every week. Middle bin is for plastic : milk jugs, yogurt cups, etc. Top one (smallest) is for glass. Our soda cans get taken back to the redemption center for $, so they aren't in the recycling.

[Jojo F.]

The city supplies us with as many bins as we need. We have four recycle bins that sit at the side of the house next to our one garbage can right out side the porch. When it's winter I like to bring the bins into the porch so they don't get covered in snow.

Every time we have something to recycle we just open the porch door and toss into the proper bin.

1 for plastic, 1 for glass, 1 for aluminum, and 1 for cardboard. Our junk mail and other paper gets shredded. The compostable paper gets shredded and tossed into the compost while the other shredded paper gets placed into a bag and recycled.

Any cans that can be returned for a refund get saved and we take them in about once a month but there are only a few states that do that.

Experiment around to see what works best for you Way to go on starting to recycle

[Minerva]

We have a couple of stacking bins from the Container Store. One for paper products, one for everything else. I like keeping the paper separate because I raid the paper bin to shred if I'm shipping lots of packages (beats buying packing fill). Those stay in the kitchen and get emptied into the garage bins on recycling day or when full, whichever occurs first.

Then I put baskets around the house in every room that seems to generate recyclables. So, one in each bathroom, one by my work area, and one in the den. The baskets get emptied into the kitchen bins as needed. You're more likely to recycle if there's a bin for it right where you're at instead of having to carry to the main bin every time. :

[kellynewcomer]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

Our junk mail and other paper gets shredded. The compostable paper gets shredded and tossed into the compost while the other shredded paper gets placed into a bag and recycled.

Wow. Can you compost shredded paper? How do you know which is okay to compost?

--

In Minneapolis,we have to separate everything and they won't take yogurt containers! We keep 4-5 paper grocery bags on the back stairs area near where we keep our shoes. It's like a back porch next to our kitchen. We'll need to start using some kind of container because it's dumb to use paper bags. Outdoors, we have a couple of green plastic rectangular tubs provided by the city. they wanted us to put the paper bags in there, but now the new rule is to put a reusable container out there with an "R" recycling symbol sticker. They will provide us with the stickers. In the mean time,it's ok to use paper bags.

[Jojo F.]

kellynewcomer- I was surprised too!! I always thought they wouldn't take shredded paper because it was too small. We do sort the paper, glossy, non-glossy, etc. take out any plastic that is in the paper. It take s little extra time but we don't mind doing it. Not all places/cities will recycle shredded paper though.

BTW- my mom is going to uptown tonight with a fried, I think Famous Dave's I miss Minnesota

[kellynewcomer]

I'm so excited to put shredded paper in my compost. It needs more "browns"... I love uptown minneapolis! We CAN recycle shredded paper here, but now, I'll probably put it in my compost instead. I found this link and it basically says pretty much any paper made and printed in North America is good for compost. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...7232159AAAu8hS

[kennedy444]

I put our recycleables in the corner of the kitchen counter and bring them down to the garage whenever I go downstairs. We have three bins in the garage - glass, plastic/metal and paper/cardboard. My dh goes to the recycle center weekly.