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Recycling Made Easy

Jul 12, 2018 • by Vali G. Heist, Certified Professional Organizer®
Vali G. Heist M.Ed.

I learned about recycling at a very young age. My mom volunteered in the Ecology Bus that was parked at the Governor Mifflin High School in the 70’s and she taught me to respect the planet a long time ago. When you want to make recycling part of your life, have a dedicated space for it and make it easy for the whole family to participate. Most people keep recycling in the home or the garage. My garage is detached and a distance from the house, so I start in the home and then take it to the garage. Below is the recycling center in my home. It contains newspapers, paper that needs to be shredded (credit card offers), and any other paper to be recycled (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.). When the boxes or bags are full, I take them to my garage. 

Because organizing and recycling is my business, my garage holds many more items to recycle. See picture below:

On the left shelving unit, I collect metal, electronics, and plastic/glass recycling. I also collect prescription glasses, used U.S. flags, expired medications, toiletries for the shelter and boxes of hazardous waste waiting for the semi-annual collection in Berks County.

In the middle of the shelving units I collect corrugated cardboard and in the large Home Depot bags I deposit the paper recycling as I bring it from the house. When the cardboard is overflowing or the bags are 2/3 full, I take them to the Berks County Recycling Center in Leesport.

Whatever your method or process, saving the planet is worth the time and effort. Passing those qualities on to your children is also time well spent. How do you you make recycling easier for your family? 

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