what do you do to help promote recycling?

Question

what kind of things at home and at work do you do to help promote recycling

Answer 1

If you really want to be a good recycler, reduce your use of disposables or products made of virgin materials as much as possible. Here's some things we've done at home to reduce our use and be better recyclers:
- We use cloth napkins and dish rags rather than paper.
- We store food in reusable glass, metal and plastic containers.
- We fill up a Brita pitcher with tap water and keep it in the fridge for when we want a cold drink of water.
- We buy frozen concentrated organic orange juice and make it in a reusable pitcher.
- We use tissues, toilet paper and paper towels made of 100% recycled paper.
- We use rechargeable batteries.
- We buy fresh produce that's lose, not packaged.
- We buy in bulk whenever possible.
- We've taken our names off junk mail lists, reducing the amounts of paper that comes into our home.
- We make our own meals from fresh ingredients rather than buy packaged prepared foods.
- We carry our lunch in reusable containers and our coffee or water in thermoses that we can use for years.
- We sort all paper waste in a different container from our glass, metal and plastic, as is specified by our city.
- Whatever electronic equipment we don't want anymore and the manufacturer won't take back we haul to the church around the corner on the designated pick up days set by a community-based group that recycles e-waste.

At work, we could do more but here's a few things we've instituted to reduce our material use and be good recyclers:
- We send documents electronically, and only print them when necessary
- We use the double side print feature on our printer
- We use 100% recycled paper in the bathroom and kitchen
- We have a water cooler
- We have two types of bins, one for trash, one for paper that can be recycled.
- We recycle our ink cartridges, using the mail packages provided by the manufacturer.

Answer 2

Samantha, I was once told during an environmental engineering class that eventually we would pay someone to haul our recyclable trash and then sort it. I'm sure San Antonio has a recycling program. Contact the City solid waste dept. and see what they can do to help coordinate your efforts. They may provide containers to use for cans and paper. Also do some proactive sort of activities such as setting up locations to bind paper for reuse (reuse is always better than recycling). Have the staff evaluate what is done on handouts that could be posted on BB's. Encourage car pooling and better yet bus use. I see locally that many high schoolers drive and then middle school and elementary students are dropped by parents and buses run at less than half full. Offering a free breakfast for bus riders may encourage riding the bus. Get it to be status quo. Reduce fuel use. Have the school keep the school cooler in the winter and warmer during the fall and spring. Even a degree or two would make a difference and save tax payers money. Good luck and look to accomplish some goal that will continue after you go on to college.

Answer 3

at home we recycle all containers, cardboard, and paper. I put myself on the "opt out" list so I don't get even more paper from pre-screened offers in the mail. I try not to buy stuff with lots of packaging-- like a whole big bag of doritos instead of lots of tiny bags. we have a house with lots of natural light, so dont' have to use power too often, and we bought those energy saving light bulbs. Also bought energy saving fridge and stove. Try to combine car trips and plan them so there is no "back tracking" to save gas.

At work, we recycle all plastic containers

Answer 4

We have 2 "trash" cans in the kitchen. One for non-recyclables and for recyclables. When anyone comes over, we make sure they use the correct can and show them not only how easy it is, but all the different things we can recycle. All food boxes, cans, bottles and even plastic from all around the house, plus junk mail etc.

Our neighborhood has curbside recycling. When we didn't, we took our paper, cans, and bottles to the center.

Answer 5

Not just by telling people to recycle, but to set an example. If people see you recycling, they will feel guilty if they don't or they will think it is natural and correct to recycle. Make sure you don't privately recycle. Actually show people that you are recycling.

Answer 6

I shop at thrift stores for clothes and household items, and donate items that I don't need anymore. I turn off lights in rooms that we aren't occupying and turn the air conditioning up to 82 degrees. I replaced regular bulbs with compact florescent bulbs. I take reuseable cotton/canvas/nyon bags that I purchased at thrift shops to the grocery store instead of taking home all those plastic bags.

Answer 7

I have a bag in the kitchen at work where we recycle plastics and cans. And I turn them in myself. I keep plastic bags or paper if we do aquire them and I reuse them.

Answer 8

Electronics, electric motors & refrigeration compressors are taken apart and every piece is sorted to its metal grade, iron goes in a drum, copper brass, aluminum, wire to other drums every piece is seperated, not many people will take the time to do this.

Answer 9

Because they don't pick up recycling at my job, I take anything that can be recycled home with me and put it in my bin.


Kim at: http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com

Answer 10

At home:
I remind my friends and family to recycle. I do this by telling them what is recyclable and reminding how it can positively effect the planet.

At work:
I tell my boss that many of the things we throw away can easily be recycled and that in my area they will actually pay businesses if they recycle enough.

Answer 11

Newspapers to Lions pick-up boxes; Plastics, misc. paper, glass, tin and aluminum cans, cardboard to Waste Control boxes; household batteries, foam rubber, aerosol cans, foil, misc. aluminum, electronics to Landfill; clothing, household items to Battered Women's Shelter or Seventh Day Adventist Clothing Bank (depending on condition). Other stuff to children or anyone who can use it. Suggestioons for other?