Dear Recycling Bins… Can You Make Recycling Easy?

Dear Recycling Bins,

I’m officially fed up with recycling! Of course, I want to do my bit for the planet. However, all the sorting, washing, and confusion has made it a real chore. How can I make recycling easy?

Thank you for your question and we definitely understand your pain! Recycling can seem like a chore and the rules can be confusing. On the other hand, in light of the recent ‘code red’ climate report, recycling is still so important for the planet.

Luckily, there are some tips and tricks to make recycling easy.

Make Recycling Easy

If you want to make it easy, cut back on waste. This means less recycling to sort and less chance of overflowing recycling bins and boxes.

You can reduce your waste by:

• Buying fresh produce loose instead of in packaging;
• Taking reusable containers to the supermarket for items from the meat and fish counters;
• Reading digital versions of magazines and newspapers;
• Using reusable coffee cups and water bottles;
• Buying pre-loved items instead of brand new ones;

Create more space in your recycling bin to make recycling easy!

Are you fed up with your bins and boxes overflowing long before collection day? Create some space by flattening cardboard boxes, as well as plastic bottles, and drinks cans.

Invest in a dual compartment bin

If you’re short on space in your kitchen invest in a dual compartment bin. This will allow you to dispose of waste and recycling in the same receptacle. It will also save you from making many trips to your bins!

Make recycling easy by saying no to packaging

Some supermarkets have introduced ‘packaging free’ aisles and now offer reusable/recyclable packaging options for loose produce. In some stores, you can also take your own container in for a refill of products like cereals and cleaning products. Try to avoid plastic packaging wherever you can. It’s better for the planet and it makes recycling easier for you.

Ditch the plastic carrier bags

If you haven’t already, invest in a bag for life and use it! Keep it in the car or near the door so you can grab it on your way out of the house. Do you have a drawer full of plastic bags? Reuse them for wrapping up packed lunches or dirty football boots, or take them to a supermarket collection point. Don’t put them in the recycling as they are notorious for jamming the machinery.

Get to grips with hard to recycle items

There are some items that are hard to recycle and not usually accepted by local councils. They leave you with a headache and they end up in landfill. Make recycling easy by looking for schemes for hard to recycle items. For example, TerraCycle is an organisation that runs schemes that allow you to recycle items for free. As part of their programmes, they accept old toothbrushes, razors, bread bags, contact lenses, and more.

Start upcycling

Not only can you make it easy, but you can also make it fun too. Get creative and crafty with the kids and upcycle some items you’d usually put in the recycling. Think of making a snow globe, a cute desk organiser, or a lantern from a glass jar. Who said recycling isn’t fun?

Online shopping - Make recycling easy by reducing packaging

Is your bin so full of Amazon boxes that there’s no room for anything else? It’s time to take action on excessive packaging when you shop online. Avoid the ‘gift wrap’ option on items and try to shop with companies that either use recyclable packaging or actively try to reduce packaging.

We hope these tips will help make recycling easy for you and give you your mojo back! For more interesting articles and tips on all things recycling, check out the rest of our blog.