Setting Up a Recycling System at Home

My last blog post consisted of the struggles many of us face when trying to start recycling. It’s especially difficult now that waste management services have limited resources themselves. This isn’t just happening in the United States. It’s challenging everyone, everywhere! Check out this post to get a better idea of where your recycled goods are ending up.

Spoiler alert: It’s terrifying, but it will give you that extra initiative to make sure you’re taking your plastics and other materials to the correct place.

There are some communities where people are able to have peace of mind after parting ways with their waste, but it’s not that simple at all for most people. If you find yourself in a similar situation to my own where it’s completely up to you to deliver these materials to the best place in your area, you may become overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to organize your operation.

So let’s break it down. Where do you start?

Step 1 : Keep an eye on your trash for a solid week and identify the recyclable materials you’re throwing away.

Write down the type of material and the identification number. This identifier can be found on the material and it will be surrounded by the recycle symbol. During this preliminary period it would be a good idea to inform yourself of what types of materials are recyclable and which ones are not. For instance, thin plastic films such as the cheap packaging on pizzas or just plain plastic wrap will not be recyclable. Do your best to avoid buying these products altogether to avoid adding it to your weekly waste.

Step 2 : Visit this link to search your area for establishments and recycling centers that will accept your materials.

Enter the type of material you have and your zip code and a list of businesses will be given to you. It’s that easy! This is the most reliable resource I’ve found that gives accurate information for what each place will accept. It even gives you each establishment’s business hours, phone number, and other important information like where their bin is located.

Alright, so now you know what you’ll be recycling and where you’ll be taking these items. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Step 3 : Gather containers that you’ll store your recyclables in during your process. (You can definitely opt for reusing old boxes or bins you may have lying around the house, this would be the most sustainable option.)

After completing steps 1 & 2 you should have a good idea of how much and how often you’ll be your recyclable materials. Personally, I figured I would be delivering my recyclables once every 2-3 months. The following product suggestions are going to be based on my calculations for my own household, but it’s still a great starting point for anyone as these products are not too big or too small for any time-specific operation.

First and foremost, you’ll want to figure out how and where you’ll keep your plastic, aluminum, etc. separated from your other trash. There are many options out there for you to choose from, but I lean towards keeping these items out of sight because it just looks junky to me. These under-the-cabinet bins are big enough to hold nearly 4 weeks worth of recyclables for our family.

When these bins have filled up I’ll dump them into their respective cans outside on our back porch where they’ll stay until we’re ready to haul them off. This 4 pack of 13 gallon trash cans are perfect for keeping our recycled items concealed and pre-sorted outside of the house. I also like to use these recycling bags to keep hauling day even more convenient for us and the employees who process the materials.

I hope this system I’ve put together helps simplify the process for you if you’re just starting out. If you try it, let me know how it worked for you in the comments below! Also, share your own tips and suggestions. This is definitely a learning curve for most of us.