10 Easy Ways You Can Be Better At Recycling

Sometimes, the first thing we think of when we hear “recycle” are green trash cans and collecting soda cans. However, anyone can recycle, regardless of where they live or how busy you are. Below are 10 basic ways you can be better at recycling and leave no trace.

1. Avoid using those plastic water bottles.

Number one on our list is to ditch plastic water bottles. Not only are they expensive, but they’re bad for the environment. It takes twice as much water to make the plastic itself than the amount of water the bottle holds. The Container Recycling Institute found that 20 billion plastic water bottles wind up in landfills each year.

Solution: Buy a water bottle. Find a special one that matches your style. Going to an event? Bring your water bottle with you. Planning an event? Add some creativity. Tell your guests to bring a cup that represents some part of their personality.

2. Styrofoam is for losers.

Like tip number one, don’t use styrofoam cups every day for your morning coffee. Bring your own mug to work. Styrofoam takes significantly longer to decompose than plastic.

3. Done being Picasso? Recycle your paint.

Paint is actually toxic. You definitely shouldn’t pour it outside and especially not down the drain. Most recycling centers take paint you’re done using. One quick Google search and they’ll dispose of the paint. Sometimes the paint can be reused for fuels.

4. Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?

Me neither. But, like plastic water bottles, use these things sparingly. Plan ahead and bring your own bags into the store. If you aren’t organized enough to do that, save your plastic bags and return them to the recycling bins that are in the front of most grocery stores.

5. Stop it with the paper towels.

Paper towels don’t last a week in my house. The dollar store has some great hand towels you can buy in a pack of two or three. Use these instead. Wash them and reuse.

6. Duh, glass is easy to recycle.

Yeah, throwing a glass bottle on the ground is cool to watch. But, glass is pretty simple to recycle. Using recycled glass is 33% more efficient than making it from scratch. Most cities have a bin outside where you can quickly drive, pull up, and toss your glass.

7. We all hate junk mail.

Even though getting mail brings a slight boost of happiness when you open the mailbox, 90% of the mail goes in the trash. Each week, pick two or three and find online where you can take yourself off the mailing list. Less mail = less paper.

8. Just buy recycled products.

Pretty obvious, but we often forget. From pencils to paper to shirts.

9. Batteries Shouldn’t go in the trash, silly.

If you look closely at a battery, they actually have a symbol to not throw it away. Not something you usually think about, but ask your recycling center if they take batteries as well. Bonus tip: use rechargeable batteries...if you still use batteries at all.

10. Get yo bins!

Do it. Call your city. Get that blue trash bin (might be green depending on your city). Make it easy for yourself to separate your trash from what can be recycled. Lots of creative ways on Pinterest.

Have any other tips? Comment below!