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Narrow white IKEA recycle bins in a doorway.

IKEA Recycle BinsI found these IKEA recycle bins for just $3.33 each at my local thrift store. Being a rabid recycler, I needed something for the narrow entryway in my apartment. These are just what I needed.

 

Signs for where to recycle plastics.

Tips for RecyclingHere are some tips for household recycling. Be organized, use explicit notes so the entire household knows what is recycled and in which receptacle.

 

A trash can full of recycling.

Recycling Made EasyI enjoy recycling and recycle everything that I can. To keep the items we use in the house separated from the trash, I have a container just for recycling. Each day, I empty it into the large container outside which has a lid secured with a bungee cord.

 

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Soften Plastic Recycling to FlattenUsing a stove, hover your food plastic packaging over the heat for a short while, at a distance not to harm your hands. Let the plastic become soft. Put it onto a work surface and then, using a silicone pot mat, quickly flatten it. This routine has significantly reduced the bulk and I now only need to take it to the recycle centre every 2 to 3 weeks.

 

A empty tissue box being reused to store plastic bags.

Store Plastic Bags in Tissue BoxI simply store my used plastic bags in an empty tissue box. Pretty and easy to retrieve! I use a smaller square tissue box under my bathroom sink to store spare bags to line my bathroom garage can.

 

Trash Bag Tab for Hanging

Hang Trash Bag from TabThis is a way to put a tab on a trash bag so it hangs securely without tearing. I simply take a piece of duct tape and fold it over the edge of the bag. After that is done, I poke a hole through the duct tape and hang it where ever I am cleaning up. This keeps the bag from tearing.

 

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Store Excess Plastic Bags for Food GarbageI keep one or two used bags on hand to put food garbage in that I want to throw away. I put them in one of these bags and tie a knot in the end of the bag. Then I throw them into my kitchen garbage.

 

A long soda box with the flaps tied back.

Tie Back Box Flaps to Return Soda CansThis might be one of those times when this only bugs me. But if not you are one of those who hates when box flaps get in the way.

 

Garbage container ready to be picked up

Has the Trash Been Picked Up?Sometimes it's hard to tell if the trash has been picked up, without multiple trips out to lift the lid. By leaving a bit of the yellow or red bag handle out, I know when it's been picked up just by looking out the window.

 

Third Hand for the Trash Bag

Third Hand for the Trash BagInsert the edge of your trash bag in an open drawer, then close the drawer. You will then have both hands free for disposing of trash. The drawer acts as a third hand!

 

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Reusing Paper and CardboardWe have seen the amount of paper and cardboard a family receives in the shopping of food and other things, so we decided one day; "Let's see how we can use this for good things in the everyday life."

 

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Stuffed Animal to Hold Plastic BagsI got the idea of cutting the battery box out and removing the stuffing in the body, leaving the head, arms, and legs fully stuffed. I then use the body to stuff full of plastic bags for the waste paper baskets and hang it on a hook on the wall.

 

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Smash Containers Flat To Save Room In TrashPlastic milk cartons, juice cartons, or laundry detergent containers can play havoc with garbage space when you are through with them. We have no recycling where I live, unfortunately.

 

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Keep Trash Bags In PlaceWhen installing a new trash bag in my trash can, I found when putting trash in it some times the bag would slip down. I solved that problem by wetting the outside of the top part of the can with a little soap and water.

 

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Store Plastic Bags in Paper Towel RollKeep all your plastic bags in an empty paper towel roll. This makes it easier to access them, and keeps them organized.

 

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Sturdy Storage for Plastic BagsI use old Kleenex boxes or wipes containers to store my plastic bags. I try to organize them by size. For the kitchen, I need larger bags to fit my waste basket. In the bathroom or for recyclables, I can use smaller sizes.

 

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Small Garbage Container for KitchenNow that there are only two of us in our household, we have downsized our kitchen garbage container for the kitchen. We have a medium-size plastic bucket that fits perfect under the kitchen sink; out of sight and out of way.

 

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Freeze Food Waste Until Garbage DayIf you don't want your discarded food remains to sit in your trash can, and more than likely turn foul smelling, pop them into a plastic bag and freeze them until you put your trash bins out at the curb for your pick up.

 

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Store Plastic Bags in Old JacketFor storing plastic bags, one tip I liked was to use an unused jacket in your hall closet. Stuff plastic bags into the sleeve facing the door. When you need one, pluck it from the sleeve cuff. Nary a problem ending up with two or three.

 

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Storing Plastic Grocery BagsPlastic bag clutter? Quickly smooth the bag. Starting on one side, roll into a sausage. Now tie it in a single knot then tuck each end in. This takes up the space of a small baseball and is neat and tidy. A small container with a lid will keep them contained.

 

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Sleeve as Bag DispenserA sleeve that zips out of a jacket makes a good plastic bag dispenser.

 

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Store Plastic Bags in a Garment BagI converted an old garment bag into a plastic bag holder. I put a clothes hanger in the hole of the garment bag and hung it on a hook in my garage. I zipped it up about half way and crammed all my plastic bags in it.

 

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Keeping Trash Bags in PlaceWhen I buy trash bags that don't like to stay in place, I simply measure off a length of elastic, sew it together and fit it over the trash can. When the bag is put into the can we simply pull the elastic over the edges and this keeps it from moving.

 

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Hiding Bathroom Garbage DiscreetlyUse empty tissue paper rolls as a secure way of disposing of things you don't want exposed in the trash, such as used feminine products. Sometimes in the rural area I live, dogs turn garbage cans over and tear open bags.

 

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Make Plastic Bag Holder From Dryer Vent TubingTake a piece of flexible aluminum dryer vent duct and make sure you put something on the edges like duct tape as it may be sharp. Cut it about 38 inches or how long you want it to be, curl it so it makes 1/2 of a circle, and stuff your store bags in it.

 

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Store Extra Bags in Bottom of the Trash BinFind storing your rubbish bags messy? I store mine at the bottom of the waste bin. That way, they are right where you need them when you pull the used bag out!

 

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Bag Styrofoam Packing Peanuts Upon ArrivalBe kind to the environment. Grab a bag when receiving a package with foam packing "peanuts" and place the pieces into the bag immediately; tying off the top when done. Should you have a need to use this type of packaging you have them right at hand.

 

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Milk Jug for Organizing Plastic BagsAn easy way to store your plastic grocery bags is in an old, clean plastic milk jug. Most of these milk jugs have an indented circle on one side.

 

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Catch Garbage Leaks With NewspapersLine your trashcans with newspapers to catch leaks. This will help keep our cans cleaner.

 

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Store Aluminum Cans on YarnI like to keep my empty aluminum cans hanging on a string of yarn. I tie the first can onto the yarn. The other cans I string on this through the pull tab.

 

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Use Magazine Rack to Store CardboardDuring this long, never-ending winter, we have had a lot of fires in our wood stove. We always save our cardboard packages to use as kindling, and it use to mound up in a pile next to our wood stove.

 

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Metal Frame Under Sink to Hang Plastic Grocery Bag for TrashNever buy another kitchen trash bag! Mount a small metal frame to the inside of the door directly below the sink and hang plastic grocery bags from it. It's a great way to reuse all those store bags and easy to get at. I replace my bags every 2 days or so.

 

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Use Binder Clips to Secure Garbage BagsBags in garbage cans slipping. I was getting frustrated with garbage bags slipping down on the inside of my tall kitchen garbage can every time I tried to put more garbage in.

 

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Storing and Using Plastic Grocery BagsTake a large mesh orange or grapefruit bag that has a draw string type handle from your store bought produce. Snip a bottom corner of the bag off. Insert grocery bags or cleaning rags. It hangs where you wish as well as easy pull out from bottom corner.

 

Print and frame schedules.

Print and Frame Regularly Used SchedulesThis is a tip for decorating and organizing at the same time. I love to decorate meaningfully. I recently scanned a garbage collection schedule distributed to households by the government, divided the image into two parts, printed each on a standard photo paper and put the photos in a nice picture frame.

 

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Have Garbage Bags Instead of Cans in The HouseI am quite a fanatic about having garbage cans in my house. Truth is, we don't have them. We recycle the plastic grocery bags and hang them on a hook in the kitchen. They fill up quite quickly, but when full, outside they go to the large garbage can.

 

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Nest Items to Fit Into Trash BetterSave money and use less trash bags. I try to flatten boxes that cereal, cake mix, crackers, etc. come in. This way I can get more trash in the trash bag before it needs replaced.

 

A Plastic Bag Dispenser

A Plastic Bag DispenserTo organize your plastic bags, try making a plastic bag dispenser. With the plastic bag dispenser, you can now store your plastic bags nicely.

 

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Hanging Plastic Bags For ReuseI recycle a LOT of sacks of every variety. By taking best care of each one, and In order to store as many and as neatly as possible, I smoothe out all air and flatten out all sacks, into stacks of the same kind.

 

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Smashing Cans Flat To Save SpaceWe used to do this when I was a child and to this day, I still do it for two reasons. When I open a can of food, after I empty it, I cut out the other end and put the lid inside then step on it to mash it flat.

 

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Compacting the TrashWhen using canned foods and products, if at all possible, cut both ends off the can and smash the can till it's flattened.

 

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Trash Cans with WheelsLarge trash cans on wheels are worth every penny when its time to take the cans to the curb.

 

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Put a Trash Can in Each RoomOne might consider putting a small trash can in each room. This would come in handy when trying to tidy up in a hurry. You'd save on steps wasted on having to go to another room to toss something out.

 

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Placemat Behind Trash CanVelcro a placemat behind your trash can for easy clean up when your kids miss the basket.

 

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Inexpensive, Attractive Waste BasketNeed an inexpensive but unique small waste paper basket? Reuse containers from plants or flowers, or go to your local craft store and buy a plant basket.

 

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Keeping The Lid On Your Garbage CanTie your garbage can lids to the handles of your garbage can to keep the lid from blowing away on windy days.

 

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Keeping Grocery Bags from Falling in Trash CansI like to use plastic grocery bags as trash liners for the small trash cans in my house but they have a way of falling inside the can which is annoying.

 

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Counter Garbage CanTake an 2-3 pound coffee can and line it with your used ziplock bag.

 

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Cupboard Garbage Bag HangerDoes your kitchen garbage bag fill up and fall off the wire rim? I solved this problem with two small hair clips, one on each side of the bag. Never had the bag fall off since. By Ann

 

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Disposing of Burnt Out Light BulbsPlace blown-out light bulbs in a baggie before throwing them away. If it is accidentally crushed, the pieces won't tear the garbage bag.

 

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Garbage Bag On OvenAttach a plastic grocery bag to the door of the oven. Just slide one side on door. Then put garbage or recycling in it while you're cooking in the kitchen.

 

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Put Ads at the Bottom of the Garbage CanEver wonder what to do with all the paper advertisements and leftover grocery ads that you always end up throwing away? Fold them up and fit them into the bottom of your garbage cans throughout the house. Then use your leftover grocery bags for trash can bags.

 

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