How to Recycle If You Don't Have Curbside Pickup (Or Even If You Do)

There's really no excuse for not recycling if you have curbside pickup. My city has a great program that lets us throw cans, glass, paper, plastic, magazines, newspapers and cardboard all in one container, which we just put out beside our regular trashcan, and away it goes. But what if you don't have it that easy? After all, a program like that isn't cheap-what if your town is too small, or just unenlightened? What if there is a city program, but you live outside the city limits?

Some people might throw up their hands and say, "What can ya do," as they chuck bottles and cans in with the rest of the refuse. Well, those people are planet-killin' ignoramuses, and you don't want to be them. So what can you do? Tons, actually: read on.

If You Have a Private Service
If you are not living within the city limits, you probably have a private garbage service. Check with your company to see if they have a recycling pickup-maybe they do, and you just didn't know about it. Maybe they don't, but they were waiting to see whether people would ask. If they don't, ask why not. The answer is likely to be "It's too expensive." Point out that they should be able to defray some of the costs by selling some of the collected material, like aluminum and steel cans. Your average homeowner generally won't amass enough of this to view it as a potential revenue stream, but certainly a garbage service could!

Also, use the strength-in-numbers approach: if you can get a bunch of other folks in your neighborhood to call or to sign a group letter requesting the service and perhaps stating that you would be willing to pay a little extra for it (depending on the number of customers, just a few dollars a month should do it), then it's hard to imagine your provider not 'going for it'.

If You Have City Pickup, but They Don't Do Recycling
See above, but remember, you are dealing with bureaucracy. Unlike the private service, who operates under a simple profit motive and who wants to provide for their customers as long as they can make a reasonable living at it, government tends to be hidebound. You may have to make several polite inquiries and write letters to a few different folks to get any response at all, let alone see any movement. Elected folks are the best ones to tap for this, though: If the people at the municipal services department don't seem motivated by your requests, the men and women who want your vote might lend you an ear. Once again, the strength-in-numbers thing works particularly well, here, so mobilize your friends, neighbors, church group, book club, sewing circle, or whatever ya got. You can get it done!

And What if You...Have tried all that stuff, but it didn't work? Or you live in a really small town, or a rural area? Or there is a recycling service, but they only take a few kinds of things? I feel ya. Here's the thing: you can still recycle practically everything, service or no service! Here are some suggestions:

1. Aluminum: This is the easiest one, because it's worth some money. Many churches, businesses, and schools have aluminum recycling bins; just save up your cans and make a deposit when you're in the neighborhood. Or maybe you know someone like the Can Man--he was an underemployed fellow who made the rounds at an old workplace of mine, collecting the cans we would save from our lunches and breaks. He provided friendly pickup service, and we saved his having to scrounge through the trash, so it was a win-win!

2. Steel: This is also saleable, although it's harder to find places that take it. You might be able to find a local business-try restaurants and hotels, which go through lots of canned food-that has a bin. You can also try scrap metal dealers; steel is a staple for them.

3. Plastic shopping bags: The best way to deal with these suckers is not to need them in the first place-take a pretty, reusable tote bag shopping with you and use that, instead. If you find yourself awash in bags anyway, save 'em up and take 'em back; most grocery stores these days have recycling bins for the bags (don't be shy about stuffing all your bags in there, not just the ones from that store). If they don't, feel free to pester them into it; they want your business.

4. Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs: Ah, ubiquitous plastic. So convenient, yet so bad for the environment. Although many municipalities recycle plastic, it's usually just #1 (PETE, like soda bottles) and #2 (HDPE, like milk jugs), and since there are actually 7 different coded kinds, this one presents a challenge. For this, I will refer to the saying "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Make this your mantra with plastic (well, with everything)! Recycle what you can. For what you can't, try to reduce by cutting down on packaging: Buy products in minimal packaging, or in packaging you know you can recycle. Flip stuff over and check out the recycling code on the bottom-if it's non-recyclable, don't buy that product. Furthermore, call the company and voice your concerns; maybe they will change their packaging, making you Green Warrior Supreme! If you can't avoid non-recyclables completely, try to reuse what you can. Plastic margarine tubs are as reusable as Tupperware and cost you nothing extra (sorry, Tupperware).

5. Magazines: This is a fun one. Recycle magazines and make people happy at the same time by instituting a "swap box" at your workplace, school, church or wherever you can make it happen. My local library, for example, has a row of milk crates in the lobby where people can drop off their own finished magazines and pick up someone else's-all for free! Not only do you get to save the Earth, you get to save money. After you've read the ones you picked out, simply bring them back to be recycled again and again! Look for places to start swap boxes. Can you imagine how much easier it would be to wait in line if there were one at the DMV?

6. Office Paper: First of all, print two-sided whenever possible. For things that are already printed one side, you might be able to run them back through the printer to utilize the back (make sure it won't be confusing which is the relevant side, of course). Or you can do what I do: Cut or rip pages in half, then in half again, and you have a stack of scrap sheets the perfect size for jotting random notes. You'll never have to buy memo pads or even sticky notes, since you can easily attach your notepaper with (reusable!) paper clips. Documents that have to be shredded for security purposes can be used as packing material, fake snow, even mulch or compost!

7. Yard clippings, leaves, food scraps: Speaking of compost, here you go-it's amazing how much stuff can go into the compost bin or pile; if you do this, you will end up putting out a very light garbage can, indeed. Build a bin or buy one at the hardware store. Don't put meat, dairy, fish, fat, grease, oils (including peanut butter) or any diseased plants in, but feel free to chuck in egg shells, banana peels, orange rinds, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, and any other vegetable matter. Turn the pile as directed, and it will produce a lovely, rich compost that will enrich your soil beautifully.

8. Egg cartons: Cardboard or styrofoam, these can be reused to organize small items in a drawer. Line one with a pretty piece of scrap fabric and use as a jewelry organizer!

9. Glass: Glass is commonly taken by recycling programs, but if yours doesn't, check to see if local businesses-again, restaurants and hotels are a good bet-would be willing to let you use their bins. If you strike out here, the good news is that glass is extremely reusable. Glass jars are dishwasher-safe and can be reused to store food or any small items (my dad used to re-purpose our baby food jars to hold assorted nuts, screws, tacks and washers at his workbench. A chipped or cracked mug isn't safe to drink from any longer, but it might make a charming pencil-holder. Use empty wine bottles as candleholders, a row of decorative suncatchers or containers for homemade oils.

10. Cardboard boxes and packing material: Okay, maybe you aren't the eBay goddess, but you probably know one, so donate these materials to her. Even boxes that seem too small or flimsy for shipping can be used as spacers to pad items in larger containers. Turn boxes with printing inside out so you won't have to wrap everything in brown paper!

11. Used clothing, toys, books, furniture, tools, etc.: Start a "swap group" with like-minded friends, or find a local one on Facebook. Or have a yard sale, and then donate the leftovers to charity. You shouldn't have to throw anything out.

So, just use your imagination, and you will be amazed by all the ingenious ways you can avoid sending stuff to the landfill, and you may end up saving some money, too, which is a nice reward for being environmentally friendly, isn't it?

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/recycle-green-earth-environment-29227/