Recycling Solutions

In preparation for the big move I have been cleaning out all the junk in every nook, cranny (what is a cranny anyway?) and closet in our house. Today was pantry day! You may ask, why would someone take pictures of their pantry? Because that is the home of our recycling bin and when I saw it I suddenly envisioned my next blog post!


Joel and I were recently discussing the merits of recycling with some friends and I thought this post could demonstrate just how easy it really is.

We have a basic plastic bin in our pantry next to the garbage can so we will remember to do it. We toss anything in that could be recycled and we don't worry about sorting at this point. It has become such a habit now that when I am about to throw something away I think, "Could I recycle this?". Even my 4 year old asks me, "Mommy, garbage or recycle?".

The next step is when the box gets full we take it out to the garage and sort into paper, plastic bags, plastic containers, aluminum, and cardboard. When I say "we" I really mean Joel, he's the one who does it most of the time.

Joel has a good system going with all the big bins on the shelves. It keeps a potential disaster area under control. There is a reason, however, that I am not sharing pictures of the rest of the garage! Because it really should be named a Federal disaster area and you would have no respect left for us if you saw it! ;)

We have curbside recycling so on garbage day we set one or two bins outside. That's it! Nothing to it! I really am proud of how we have reduced the amount of garbage we put out. We used to have two overflowing cans with plastic garbage bags around it and it gives me such a sense of accomplishment to set out a single, half-full garbage can now.

By the way, I am not writing this to judge anyone else. My desire is simply to share how easy it really is and if we can do it anyone can!

Oh man! It just occurred to me that there is no curbside recycling out in the country! There are no curbs! Ugh!

I think we'll manage somehow. ;)