To make it simpler
for your family to go green and recycle more of the waste produced, today's
task is to design an attractive and practical Recycling Station.
As much as we try
to recycle, there is still regular rubbish in our homes that we have to deal
with. As a result, we'll also pay
attention to streamlining the home's rubbish collection process.
I think that
recycling is something that the majority of people support, at least
conceptually. However, it can be challenging to actually stop throwing things
away in the rubbish and start going the extra mile to recycle.
Fortunately, with a
little forethought and planning, the straightforward actions listed below,
along with some planning and habits, can make recycling, which initially seems
like a lot of work, into a routine that requires little daily effort but has
significant environmental benefits.
What can be recycled?
The first step is to find out what can be recycled in your
area and how.
Each region has different recycling regulations, and different
boxes, bags and bins that you are required to separate the items to observe the
rules and regulations.
Knowing these guidelines and using them as a reference as
you complete the remaining steps below is the only way to create the best
possible Recycling Starion for your family.
Check on your council website as they should have a recycling section
which will have a list of what you can recycle, and what bins, bags or boxes to
use. It is helpful if you print out a
copy so you can keep it near your Recycling Station so you and your family can
refer to it when needed or in case you forget which container to put an item in.
My local council has the following:
- Wheely Bin – General Rubbish – this goes to the landfill ☹
- Black box – Cardboard and Glass
- White Bag – Tins, cans and Plastics
- Blue Bag – Paper, and newspapers
Where In Your Home to set up your Recycling Station
There are many things
to think about, some of which are covered below:
The following are
the main types of recyclable materials.
Paper, Plastic, Glass
and Metals.
Naturally, if you
do need to separate them, multiple containers will take up more space, so
you'll need to be even more careful about where you put them or choose
something attractive if it will be relatively large.
Because they take
up less floor space, stacking containers can be extremely useful in these
circumstances.
Choosing your containers.
When choosing which
type of recycling containers to use, you should also take into account how much
recycling will accumulate between the times when it is removed from your house.
For instance, if
recycling is collected from the curb once a week in your area, you might only
need a few small containers to hold everything since they will be quickly taken
away from your home.
Materials that can
be recycled, particularly those that once contained food, need to be rinsed, so
they don’t attract flies and such, before putting them in your recycling bin.
For the short term –
a recycling station can be positioned in your kitchen. Whereas longer-term recycling would be more
suited to a garage or outdoor shed.
Create A Main Recycling Station and other Collection Areas
The main room in your home which will generate items to go
in your recycling station is your kitchen, and that is the main area in your
home where you should try to collect recycling.
Therefore, look in or around your kitchen for space to
create the main recycling station for your home. If the recycling containers
are in plain view, try to choose something attractive. If they are hidden
behind doors, or in a room close to the kitchen, such as a cupboard or utility
room, you don't have to worry about how they look quite as much.
Your kitchen is not the only room in your home that can
generate recyclable items though. Typically, the following rooms are places
where recyclable items can accumulate:
- Bathrooms
- Home office
As humans, we are
lazy – if faced with even the smallest amount of effort – we will just throw
something in the rubbish rather than recycle it.
Because of this, why
not try placing small recycling bins in strategic locations around your house
to increase the likelihood that when you finish a bottle of shampoo or want to
throw away a piece of paper, it will go in the recycling bin rather than the easier
option of rubbish bin.
Label every recycling bin and
container
Often, it is not
immediately clear which container is for recycling and which is for rubbish.
Make sure to label all of your recycling containers with the type of material
they should contain to avoid this issue and any confusion it might cause for either
family members or guests.
This is
particularly useful if you have to separate your recyclables or if you only
recycle some materials but not others.
In addition, if you
have young children, colour-coding your labels or using pictures may be helpful
to guide them in placing their recyclables in the proper bins at your recycling
station.
Don't Forget a Kitchen Compost Bin
Remember that food waste
is an important item to "recycle" in your kitchen in addition to the
major categories of recycling listed above.
I don’t know whether
it is my local council, but they provide you with 2 food waste bins – one for the kitchen and one
for the recycling men to empty. Or
perhaps like me, you have a compost bin in your back garden where you can
dispose of your food waste.
If your council doesn’t
provide this – it’s relatively simple - all you need is a small kitchen compost
container to store the food waste until you add them to the main compost pile regularly.
This container can either be kept on your counter or somewhere else that is
convenient in your kitchen. While some people use an old coffee can, others use
a container made just for holding their food waste. I prefer to use one with a lid, so in the summer
it doesn’t attract flies.
Therefore, if you
use one, be sure to choose one that is appropriate for your needs, taking into
account how frequently you will empty your kitchen compost container.
Recycling Station Storage Ideas
When choosing which
recycling bins and containers to use in your recycling station, keep in mind
the factors I mentioned above.
This is a neat and
tidy way to organise your recycling.
Ideal if you have a larger kitchen.
These are quite versatile as they can be used in multiple
ways. Either stack them up or use them in separate places around the house.
This is ideal if you are wanting to avoid the visual clutter
of different storage bins as this is a 4 compartment multi-purpose indoor bin
Even though I've
talked about bins that you can purchase - you can also get creative by
designing your own recycling station.
Regardless of the
method you choose, keep these considerations in mind when selecting the
container types that will work best for your needs as you set up your recycling
station.
Hinged Lid Containers - Keeps away those pesky little fruit flies.
Stacking
containers - By stacking
them on top of each other you can minimise floor space/worktop space.
Container on Wheels – Easy to move if they are on wheels –
especially if they are lightweight.
Comfortable
handles – These are beneficial
if you plan to lift them.
Place Rubbish Bins in Every Room
Although we would
love to recycle everything, even the most well-organised homes produce rubbish.
There will be some sort of activity that generates rubbish in every room of
your house.
For example, in my daughter’s
room, there are her facial cleansing pads which are scattered throughout her
bedroom even though she has a bin!!!! ☹☹ I know, I know – She should be using a
reusable one – but I know her, and she would not put it in the washing basket
for me to clean – It’s hard enough to get her to bring out her dirty clothing.
She is 12… need I say more!!!
Therefore, as part
of today’s task, let’s deal with all the rubbish in our homes, specifically by
making it simple for every member of the family to throw their rubbish away,
right away.
Whilst this might
seem obvious, as I said earlier – we are lazy human beings - if there isn't a rubbish
bin nearby, you're more likely to leave your rubbish lying around. It’s this
type of thing that quickly turns into a clutter problem that disorganises the
entire house. The straightforward remedy: a rubbish bin in every room!
I'll divide this
into kitchen rubbish bin and waste paper baskets for other rooms because there
are some factors to take into account when choosing the best rubbish bins for
different types of rooms.
Kitchen rubbish bin
Your kitchen rubbish
should be large enough to hold one day's worth of kitchen rubbish. The reason is that you don't want to have to
take it out more than once a day, but ideally, you'll take out your kitchen rubbish
at the end of each day to reduce odours and not attract.
For your kitchen, there
are generally two different types of rubbish bins. Which one you pick will
depend on how your kitchen is set up and your personal preferences.
First, there are
pull-out rubbish bins that are located under the worktop. Given that the rubbish
is hidden from view and that it opens by simply pulling on what appears to be a
large kitchen drawer, these can be very useful. You can also find one that
holds two rubbish bins, which is very useful if, for instance, you want to use
one as a rubbish bin and the other as a recycling container.
Separate rubbish
bins are also widely used and function very well. Choose an attractive one if
you ever need to buy a new one because it will be on display. Additionally, I
advise getting one that opens and closes effortlessly, even when your hands are
full, like one that opens with a foot lever or a wave of the hand.
Waste Paper Baskets
Other rooms' rubbish
bins don't have to be as big as the kitchens, but they still need to be big
enough to hold that room's rubbish for about a week.
Since each of the
rooms in my house gets cleaned every week – they don't produce a lot of rubbish,
I tend to have small rubbish bins.
Invest in
easy-to-clean plastic or metal rubbish bins for any area where you might produce
messy rubbish such as the toilet room or bathroom. You can use any kind of
basket you like in other rooms that only produce clean rubbish, like paper.
Establish A Routine for Emptying Rubbish
and Recycling
The last step in the recycling station task is to establish
or maintain a routine for routinely emptying your rubbish and recycling.
Again, it should go without saying that you should regularly
remove your rubbish and recyclables from your home to keep it clean, tidy, and
free of clutter.
Most of us already follow a routine for taking the recycling
bins out to the pavement for the bin men to collect. Therefore, incorporating a
similar routine for your recycling station can build upon those tasks you
already do and make incorporating recycling into your family's lifestyle
simple.
I have a box that I use for my recycling and at the end of
each day – I will distribute it into the appropriate recycling box, bag or bin,
rinse out the box ready for collecting the recycling the next day.
Tell Me How the Recycling Station
Task is Going for You
I also love before
and after pictures of your recycling Stations, and explanations of what you've
done to make it work for you and your family. Why not share your accomplishments
with your fellow declutter-ers? You've
worked hard to get organised, so now here's your chance to show off! #GoDeclutterBlog30DayChallenge