Starting Points

Its easy to think of recycling as what happens when you take a bin full of paper, cans and bottles to the curb every week. Community recycling programs are a good starting point, but there’s a lot that “average citizens” can do right in their own homes to make an even bigger difference.

Begin by making sure you know exactly what your community can accept from a recycling standpoint. In addition to curbside service, most areas also have drop off locations for larger items and additional materials. By following the curbside guidelines, you can streamline your community’s processing efforts and reduce their internal expense. By knowing what materials can be dropped off at remote locations, you can make your trips more efficient and properly recycle a higher percentage of your disposable materials.

But recycling takes on a number of other dimensions too, starting with the everyday items in your home. When coats are worn out, clothes go out of style, computers are upgraded or appliances are replaced, they should be donated to organizations that can find them a new home, or repurpose them for additional use. In addition to the tax benefit, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you have extended the life of these products and possibly improved the quality of life of others.

Strange as it may sound at first, recycling household food and water can also save money and natural resources. Food scraps can be composted for use in gardens or in donations to community programs. With a little extra effort, bathing water can be captured and reused in toilets, yards and gardens.