Recycling and reusing old materials can make a big difference in the amount of waste we produce, but sometimes trying to figure out recycle on your own is difficult. Even if you don't already have recycling services in your community, finding out start a recycling group can help you start reducing waste sooner than you think.
Instructions
1. Call your local waste management office to learn what recycling services are already in your area. Some have door-to-door recyclable pick-up and give you bins along with your trash can, while other areas may have a separate recycling company that handles recyclables.
2. Organize recycling bins at town hubs where people can see them, if recycling pick-up is not readily available in your area. Schools, churches, supermarkets and charity donation centers such as Goodwill and Salvation Army are all good places to keep bins.
3. Separate recyclables into glass, plastic, paper or cardboard and aluminum. This makes the recycling process easier and helps people understand what's recyclable and what's not.
4. Lead a group that picks up recyclables, and take members to the drop-off area or the plant. Advertise in your local paper and at schools or churches to find volunteers, and be especially attuned to groups like high school service organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts and church ministries.
5. Move beyond usual recyclables. Clothing, shoes, furniture, kitchen appliances and dishes, packing materials, cell phones, computers and other electronics all offer great opportunities to pass used items on to others. Electronic equipment can be especially hard to discard, and packing material constitutes up to a third of the material in landfills today.
6. Publicize a drive for unconventional recyclables.
