How do you recycle neatly and what can be recycled?

[Rollermommy]

Ok this is really bugging me: We used to recycle but with pick up only once a month it really started piling up in my kitchen, the kids would drag it all out.....and like my kitchen wasnt messy enough as it is: But i know there must be a way, how do people in small apartments recycle? Where do you keep it?

And another question: How do you know what can be recycled? I know stuff like milk jugs, and soup cans, but what about plastic bags from frozen veggies, or cereal packages, or regular paper, or junk mail?

TIA mama's

[justmama]

Okay here we go. You can recycle the following:

tin cans(soup and canned whatevers)
soda cans
milk jugs(the plastic sort)
juice bottles(the plastic sort)
cereal boxes(open flaps and crush first)
pasta boxes(rip out plastic window)
any cardboard inserts of packaged food
magazines
newspapers
any sort of paper from computer paper to homework paper, etc
all plastic with the numbers 1 or 2 at the bottom in all states, but in some states you can recycle those with numbers 5 also

Basically you cannot recycle any of those plastic bags from frozen veggies or supermarket bags(bring your own cloth bags or give them back to the store. most large chains will recycle them). I find that there are uses for many of the things that we just throw away anyway. I use those little plastic fruit containers(you know the type that strawberries come in) for "cages" for zoo animals. I like the plastic tubes that Crystal Light comes in for pencil holders on desks. I use produce bags from the supermarket for poop bags for walking the dog or to carry my lunch to and from work and school. Almost everything can be reused as long as you are economical with it. I try to avoid using things that cannot be recycled as they only contribute to waste and landfill junk.
To keep things compact, get yourself a regular garbage can and a cardboard box.(this is what I do anyway.) I put them under the sink. the cardboard box is for the paper and cardboard products and the garbage can is for metals and plastics. Is the recycling center accessible to the public? I don't have recycling pick-up in the apartment complex I live in and I don't have a pass for the dump but you CAN go in just to drop off recycling whenever you want to, at no charge. Maybe that's an option for you????? Good luck.
Meg

[khrisday]

Your recycling company shoudl be able to provide you with a list of what they can and cannot accept if you call and ask.

[HomeBirthMommy]

I am sooooo glad you posted this. Even though we recycle, now I realize there's even more I could be doing. Thank you!