I 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. When we take the trash to the convenient site, we empty the recycling into the commingled recycling container.
According to a lady from the recycling company, that spoke at one of our meetings, you don't have to wash every container such as peanut butter and jelly containers. Just scrape out as much as you can. Even aerosol containers are recyclable if they are empty.
At the convenient site, there are separate containers for textiles such as clothing and rags, cooking oil, motor oil, oil filters, batteries and electronics. In addition to this, at the transfer station, you can recycle appliances, tires, light bulbs, concrete, and yard waste.
Recycling not only saves landfill space, it has created jobs and saved energy for making other products. Recycling is easy, once you get use to it, and you will find that you no longer want to put these items in the trash.
If you don't know what you can recycle in your area, contact your county's Solid Waste Department.
We rarely ever throw something out that might serve another purpose than originally intended. broken furniture gets taken apart, the usable stuff kept, the metal recycled and the wood (if not infused with fire retardant or otherwise toxic) piled for future use.
Sometimes it is hard to know how to dispose of broken household items. It is best to try and find an alternative to the landfill if at all possible, especially since some things such as electronics and batteries pollute if not properly recycled.
We hang a cloth tote bag over the door handle in our bathroom and put all the recycleable items in the bag. Quick and easy, and you'd be surprised how quickly it fills up.
Compared to others, I am new to recycling or green living. I learn more each day. Many people say they don't have time to recycle. Help them get started.
You spent months calculating and saving on the perfect Christmas gifts. Now, it's time to save a little after Christmas.
Here are some tips for household recycling. Be organized, use explicit notes so the entire household knows what is recycled and in which receptacle.
If you recycle, you may want to phone your city or municipality to ensure they will accept blue bags with recycling. They picked up blue bags at my previous home.
I use paper grocery bags for my recycling, I put them in the corner in my kitchen and they collect paper, newspaper, cans, and plastics. When the bag is full I just throw it out into my large recycling container in the garage and open a new bag in the kitchen!
I have been unsuccessful in finding a company to which I can send unused nylon hosiery (still packaged pantyhose) for recycling. A couple of companies listed online no longer recycle hosiery.
New pantyhose (especially if they are older brands) are a very popular seller on eBay. I have sold them on and off for years. They are best sold as lots (2 or more of the same brand), but I have also done mixed brand lots.
I am pasting a link of sold items so you can see how people do it: www.ebay.com/
I do not have any sold in here so no conflict of interest.
If you are intent on recycling, it is actually easier to find new uses.
My 3 go-tos for used ones are:
1. We use the toes (with about 3-5 inches of hose) and a rubber band and attach them to catch lint from the washer (on end of the hose that drains in to the stationary tub).
2. We have also cut them up to tie up tomato and pepper plants in the garden (one of my favorite uses).
3. I have also used them to crochet. I cut and small rounds then when I am watching TV or can't sleep, I loop them together to make "yarn" which I crochet. I made one dog rug with it (it took a VERY long time to get enough...which is why the project was so small).
Post back what you decide! To me, in this struggling economy, selling them is the best option! I have always done quite well when I sell them, but hopefully your question will garner you lots of good other suggestions.
How do you recycle plastic bags?
Amber from Cincinnati, OH
I have been reading and researching "plarn". It is yarn made from recycled plastic bags. I have seen some really cute purses made from this. Google plarn and some instructions will come up. I just don't know how to knit so that is my next step!
If you crochet, you can make bags or rugs out of them. They are very sturdy & will last a very long time.
The majority of the time most grocery stores have a big cardboard box somewhere up front of the store encouraging you to recycle them there. Just drop them in.
We all know that recycling is good for our planet and most people have the soda can and plastic and newspaper recycling down pat. But did you know there are other things that can be recycled?