How to Recycle At Home - Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

More and more people these days are now becoming aware of the environmental issues that spread like a wild fire due to the impacts of climate change and global warming to people’s lives and properties across the globe. Many already started some recycling to help reduce the waste in our environment, as well as conserve energy and precious raw materials. From its humble beginnings, recycling slowly turns to become people’s daily lifestyle.

Employing the 3R’s of recycling, that is to reduce, reuse and recycle, need not be hard and you don’t need to be a complete tree hugger either, for this. Sometimes, all you need to do is to become practical, and changing or adjusting your daily routine. In fact, recycling can be fun, especially when the whole family is involved in this “green” project.

There are so many things that can be recycled and there are countless ways to make recycling an integral part of our lifestyle. But it’s often best to keep things simple and start out small. Remember that every little bit helps and once you are getting used to the basics of recycling, you may then add more ideas or innovations to take your “green” project to the next level. Below are some tips on how to recycle at home:

Recycling at home often starts with waste reduction. Waste reduction means creating less waste and it begins with the goods we buy. Here are some ways to reduce waste at home:

• Buy only things that are necessary and as much as possible, avoid impulse buying or buying those items that you rarely use. This will greatly reduce your household waste and help you save money too!
• Share magazines and newspapers to your family, friends and neighbors to save trees.
• Borrow books, CD’s and DVD’s from your local library or buy pre-owned items.
• Donate your old books and magazines to your local libraries, schools and charities.
• If you are planning a party, opt to rent party supplies, such as decorations, glasses, utensils, etc.
• Avoid buying products with excessive packaging
• Consider buying goods in refill packs or containers to cut down on packaging. Goods in refill packs are usually cheaper too.
• Avoid buying disposable items and invest in durable, high quality products that can be used longer. They may cost more at first but they compensate themselves with a longer lifecycle.
• Buy green products made from organic and recyclable materials. Look for items with “recycled symbols” on its packaging.
• Organize a yard sale or garage sale and sell all your unwanted stuffs, such as old clothes, toys, office and school supplies, furniture and home appliances. You can also sell them off at some websites.
• Donate your old computers, unwanted toys, slightly used clothing, books and school supplies that you no longer use to charitable organizations and communities.
• Reduce your organic waste at home by composting your fruit and vegetable scraps, lawn clippings, papers, straw, teabags and coffee grinds.

Reusing items that you already have in your home or household prolongs their longest possible lifespan, thereby helping to reduce waste and conserve our resources. Most household items that no longer fit their original purpose usually end up in trash. Buy those items that can be reused. You just have to be creative to bring these landfill bound items to a new life. Here are some easy ways to reuse everyday items:

• Reuse your shopping bags. Bring them whenever you shop.
• Old newspapers, magazines and other paper products can be reused to wrap your gifts.
• Old furniture can be repainted or refinished to make them look new again.
• Reuse your excess paints at home to paint your outdoor furniture, gardening tools and other equipment, then once its can or container is empty, you can use it to store your things.
• Decorate shoeboxes, plastic containers, and empty cans and use them to store your home or office supplies.
• Make Flower base made from recycled glasses and wine bottles.
• Save jars and food containers and reuse them to store your own homemade jams or sweets.
• Sell, trade or exchange your unwanted items with someone who needs what you don’t. There is a saying that “Someone's Trash is Someone's Treasure”.
• Freecycle or giveaway all your unwanted but usable items. Freecycle is all about reusing and keeping goods out of landfills through a system of giving and getting items for free. Check Freecycle.org for more information.

Recycling at home is easier than what you thought as most items nowadays, such as paper products, plastic bags, batteries, glass jars and bottle, and even home appliances can be recycled. All you have to do to get started is to place recycle bins on your home to encourage everyone in the family to start recycling, then begin collecting and sorting these items and then you will have to either wait for them to be collected or take them yourself to your local recycling centers.  Check Earth911.com to find Recycling Centers near your area. Below are some of the common things that you can recycle at home:

• Old news papers, magazines, notebooks, catalogs and other paper products are all recyclable and are accepted at most recycling centers.
• Glass jars and bottles are common recyclable items and can be taken at recycling centers. But you should sort them by colors as some of these recycling centers only accept certain types of colors.
• Empty propane gas, Barbeque grills and other metal junks can be recycled as metal scraps.
• Unused brick or hollow blocks can be recycled through a process of crushing which then creates “brick chips”. Brick chips can be used for landscaping or can be reground to produce new brick.
• Plastic bags can be taken to the supermarket’s carrier bag recycling points.
• Old batteries can be recycled at most recycling centers. Some companies even offer battery collection programs.
• Slightly used clothing can be donated to your local charities, but if it’s no longer usable you can take them to your home recycle bins and banks that accept fabrics and textiles.
• Aluminum cans used for beverage and processed food are all recyclable and are usually accepted at home recycle bins.
• Technology items, such as computers, televisions, cell phones and other electronic devices and appliances can be donated to charities if they are still working. But if not, you can take them to your recycling centers. In addition, some manufacturers and retailers also offer free e-waste recycling. Contact your electronic dealer, to check if they offer these services.
• Take your empty print cartridges to your local office supply stores. These Drop-Off Spots will even offer you incentive whenever you return a used cartridge.
• Take your used tires at your local recycling facility or tire retailers. Scrap tires can be recycled to make rubber bands, swings, shoes and sandals, and more!