I started to recycle!

[NW Admin]

I started recycling about a month ago. I thought about doing it for a long time, but will admit I was lazy. I didn't even know how to get one of those blue recycling containers and I suppose that was really the only thing holding me back. Luckily, I was driving past the trash man one day and I stopped to ask him how I get the blue recycling bins? He opened a compartment on the trash truck and put 2 containers in the back of my SUV! Then he told me how it all worked. I also got a letter from the trash company telling me what I could recycle and how to give it to them.

So I started to recycle glass, steel, tin, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and plastics #1 and #2 (packages are labeled with the plastic #). I have to admit that it's hard learning to recycle everything. I kept forgetting and throwing recyclable items in the trash. But, I knew I had to learn so I made it a point to periodically go back and look in the trash can to see if I threw something in there that I shouldn't have. Let me just say that I keep having to take stuff out of the trash can. I also found that I really AM lazy! LOL! Seriously, I am only saying this because I know many many other people will feel this way. I have a small kitchen so it's not practical to keep a trash can AND a recycling bin in there. So I keep the recycling bins outside by the door. I found myself constantly having things that needed to go out there and I didn't like having to in and out all the time.

Having said that, let me tell you... it will amaze you how much stuff you throw away every day that can be recycled! I can asure you that unless you are always preparing fresh home grown foods, you will have stuff to recycle every day. All the boxes your food comes in, the tin/steel cans your fruits/veggies come in, the glass jars of sauces, ketchup bottles, soap bottles, newspapers, plastic and cardboard milk containers, you name it... it goes. Hence it being a little annoying that I constantly have to take stuff outside. But, it's worth it and I feel good about it.

I also learned that you can take all your saved up plastic grocery bags back to the grocery store to be recycled. A lot of stores have bins for them now. The local trash people do not take those bags. You have to take them to the store.

Now this is old and well known, but for anyone who doesn't know already, you can save up all your aluminum cans (like soda cans) and take them to recycling stations and make some money back for them. It's not a whole lot unless you saved a LOT of cans.

[avorrgorrus]

Cool! I am glad to talk to another recycler. I used to recylce aluminum cans, but since I don't drink soda anymore I don't have any cans to take down town.

Though I always throw my trash in a trash can.

Anything to help.