We have one planet to live on and must care for our Earth. Of all the ways to pitch in, recycling is probably the easiest. These efforts can reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and garbage in landfills. There are also cost savings and energy savings associated with recycling and plenty of other benefits. If you are unsure where to begin or want to expand on your current recycling efforts, here are some ways to increase recycling around your home.

1. Educate

Throwing everything in the garbage is a sheer lack of effort for some. For others, the mentality to recycle just newspapers and cans is ingrained. Almost everything you encounter daily can be reused or recycled in some way, shape or form. Educating yourself on recycling and becoming more aware can help you pitch in more. The more you know, the more you can do! Take the time to read resources, learn more about items you can recycle and get involved in community programs. Teach your children the importance of recycling by asking questions and discussing how does recycling save energy? Most importantly, lead by example. When your little ones see you making conscious efforts, they are likely to form those habits. 

2. Reusable Bags

Paper or plastic? We have all been asked this question multiple times as we stood in front of a cash register, waiting to pay for our groceries or other items. Both bags can be recycled. Stores sometimes even have bins to place these bags in to be reclaimed by the store. If you opt for paper or plastic, be sure to either reuse the bags again or put them into your recycling bin. A better alternative is to bring your reusable bag. This cuts down on the number of bags being used and reduces items to recycle once you are home. Most stores have oversized reusable bags you can purchase for a small fee.

3. Make It Fun

The key to making any task enjoyable is to make it fun. If you have children, find ways to incorporate them into the recycling process. Learn together as a family about the importance of recycling. There are plenty of educational activities online you can do together. You might want to offer a small reward for finding new items that should be recycled. Another great idea is to have a family activity night where you find a way to repurpose something instead of throwing it away. For instance, an empty coffee tin can be painted and decorated to be transformed into a storage jar or coin container or any other number of useful items.

4. Bins

If you take your recyclables to a center, you need to sort them. Create labeled bins that make it easier to keep these items sorted. It is also an excellent reminder to recycle if you walk past this labeled bin. Did you know that a lot of things you throw away could probably be recycled or repurposed? Education on the vast number of recyclables can help to increase your family’s contribution to a recycling program. An inclusive list can encourage increased recycling or remind us how many things we use daily can be recycled instead of tossed into the trash. You should consider laminating and posting a list on each bin. 

Place bins in spaces near a trash can to remind your family and yourself to recycle instead of throw into the garbage. Inside and outside bins can help increase usage, especially if you spend a lot of time outside. If you entertain guests at your home frequently, it might be worth putting a recyclables container out at your gatherings to encourage your guests to participate. 

The conservation of natural resources and reducing pollution and other negative impacts on our precious Earth can benefit us and generations to come. Recycling is so important for many reasons. Make this a fun activity that your family participates in and learns more about together. Once it becomes a part of your daily routine, you will habitually look at items as recyclable or not. Almost everything can be recycled or repurposed, so challenge yourself to find new ways and new items to recycle or reuse. This act may seem small, but collectively, the impact is humongous.