What are you doing for America Recycles Day?
Yup, America Recycles Day here again and we have to do something to celebrate, no?
If you’re already recycling paper and plastic and composting, celebrate yourself! You’re doing a great job.
But even those of us who are, can most likely do better.
For instance, before tossing things that your local waste collection turns down, how about:
- Checking with Earth 911, enter your zip code and see if there is a nearby agency or company that will take it. You’ll be amazed at what can be recycled. It may take a bit of effort (and sometimes small payment), but won’t it feel great knowing your stuff won’t sit forever in a landfill?
- Calling your local school and seeing if they can use it. Money is in short supply in most schools and art teachers (those who are left) need supplies which may include all sorts of things you’re more than happy to donate.
- Asking friends/family to see if they might need the items. You could even set up a neighborhood list for anyone to list free stuff.
- And speaking of free, we’ve found Freecycle to be the perfect place to giveaway everything from rags to furniture in need of repair.
- Put on your DIY hat, check out a site like Instructables and see whether you can make something from what you planned to toss.
- Take the America Recycles Day Pledge and start recycling something you haven’t done before.
A couple of other things you could consider to help recycling efforts.
- How about checking with your local government about adopting a mile of nearby roadway? Just do a search for “adopt a mile program+your state,” to find the right agency. Not only will you be making your stretch of road more attractive, but you can recycle while doing it.
- If you don’t have curbside recycling (and composting) in your area, contact your county or city officials and find out what it would take to get the effort rolling. Or become a neighborhood volunteer. Collect recyclables from nearby homes and once a week take them to a recycling facility.
One last thought. Careful purchasing is the best way to avoid collecting non-recyclables. If you have the choice of purchasing an item in a plastic clam shell (which generally can’t be recycled in curbside pick up), or purchasing the same or similar item in cardboard, choose the latter. Better yet, pick it up used so it has no packaging at all!
Thinking before you buy will make you a better recycler.
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.
