Recycling Solutions from Re-Nest

Remember when I talked about setting up my own recycling area here. Well, over at Re-Nest they are giving some more advice about setting up a recycling area in a small space.

Check out what they have to say below.

Oh, how we pine for the room to have a full recycling station at home! Imagine it: three full-size bins, clearly labeled for recycling, showcased in the pantry, ever ready for a Martha Stewart-inspired photo shoot. But alas, we're stuck with a little bit of pantry room and some under-the-sink space. We're betting a lot of you are in the same boat. Here are our favorite small-space recycling station tips and tricks.

The simplest way to make room for your recycling is to just use one bin (as opposed to three). Start a good habit of thoroughly cleaning out all your recyclables (part of recycling anyway), and then toss them into one receptacle. We'd recommend having a recycle bin that's slightly larger than your trash can, which will encourage and remind you to be mindful of creating waste. Even if your city doesn't offer single-stream recycling, clean recyclables are easy to sort through and you can separate them on recycling day.

If you have just a little more room, or want something more organized, check out these great tips for home recycling solutions:

• Best of 3: Home Recycling Storage Solutions
• 13 Recycling Solutions from Ikea
• How to Set Up a Home Recycling Station That Works

(Image: Matteriashop)

The Easy Way to Go Green on St. Patty's Day

Got this article from Re-Nest.

This list of 5 household items that should always be recycled was compiled by RecycleBank, a recycle rewards program in 24 U.S. states and the United Kingdom.

1. Electronics: Desktop computers, cell phones, PDAs, and any other home office electronics may contain toxic materials including lead, mercury and arsenic. These materials can be salvaged and or used in other places. See our list of electronics recycling websites.

2. Rechargeable Batteries: Rechargeable batteries from cordless phones, power-tools, digital cameras, etc. can also be reduced to usable metals to make new batteries and steel. Try Earth911 to find drop off locations or order a box (for $34.50, including prepaid shipping) from Battery Solutions and send them up to 12 pounds of alkaline and/or rechargeable batteries for recycling. IKEA also accepts used batteries.

3. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: You know compact fluorescents (CFLs) reduce your energy expenditure, but you may or may not be aware that they contain small amounts of toxic compounds like mercury. Be sure to recycle them at local resources such as IKEA or Home Depot.

4. Plastic Bags: Even the best of us forget to bring our reusable bags every time. We use ours to cleanup after our dog, but you can also take them into retails and drop them off in their bag bins where they're turned into new bags or plastic lumber. Since they're made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, they take a very long time to decompose.

5. Anything You Think Can Be Reused: Prescription glasses, unexpired medications, and other working items should always be given instead of thrown away. There are a number of resources available on the web including Freecycle, Craigslist, One Sight or the Health Equity Project.

Picture from http://www.thefilevault.co.uk/img/recycling.jpg

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E

I finally took a more inclusive picture of our recycling area. What you see in the picture above usually sits in our walk-in attic off of our kitchen and has one more bag with it.

The bags are made from jute, and I got them from World Market for about $5.00. They only had bags with Glass and Plastic printed on them so I got one of each and two plain ones. We use the glass for glass (obviously), the plastic for (yep, you guessed it) plastic, one plain for pop cans, and one for tin cans. Our crate is for cardboard. So far the system has worked great because the bags have a flat bottom, a wipe-able liner, and have a bendable hoop in the top to keep them open. They also have handles to easily care them and hold enough that you don't have to empty them too often but not so much that you can't carry it when it is full.

Here is what the tag on the bag says:
This 100% Jute bag is the perfect way to recycle your plastic. One of the strongest natural fibers, the jute weaver was once recognized as an artisan trade in the early 1900's. A sustainable earth resource, this durable bag is a great addition to your kitchen as well as an eco-friendly alternative.

So far for the price and what they do I am very pleased. I am not pleased that they were made in China, and that they are lined with plastic (even though it is nice they are wipe-able). But overall, I think they were a great buy and help keep our little place a little more organized.

Where is your recycling area in your home? What do you use to collect your recyclables?

Photo Fridays

Yes, that bag is full of beer bottles.
No, they aren't mine.
Someone in this apartment might have a drinking problem....

Reduce, Reuse, and Yea, that one.

I grew up in a household that was big on recycling, even though it was inconvenient to do so. We lived out in the country and had to drive to take our recycling. I am slightly glad that we didn't have the convenience of curbside pick up because now I am used to driving to take my recycling and don't think anything of it.

Anyways, luckily I married a man who also found the importance of recycling. We realized quickly that we didn't have to take the trash out as often and weren't wasting more bags for garbage that wasn't really garbage.

I am currently working on setting up our recycling area at our apartment, and don't worry because I will share it with you next week. Get excited. Or not. Your choice.

So today I wanted to see what types of plastics we can recycle in our county. I know not all places take all plastics, but I was pleased to find that ours does. But I also know that not everyone realized what each number means and what they can be recycled into. It also helps to know which ones aren't recycled that often so that you can try not to buy things made from those plastics. (An all around good idea even if your area does recycle all plastics.)

Here are some facts I got from the Daily Green about those numbers on the bottom of the bottle:

Number 1 Plastics
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers

PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

Number 2 Plastics
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling prog

rams, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing

HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

Number 3 Plastics
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats

PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

Number 4 Plastics
LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile

LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Number 5 Plastics
PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays

Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Number 6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.

Number 7 Plastics
Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.

Do you recycle? Does your area allow you to recycle all plastics? If not, do you try not to buy those plastics that you can't recycle? Why or why not? Leave a comment, and let me know.

Pictures from www.thedailygreen.com