Learning How to Recycle and Compost with a Busy Family

Recycling is a great way to care for the environment. It reduces the need for extracting raw materials which can create substantial air and water pollution. Recycling also saves energy. Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process consumes considerably less energy than what would be required for producing new products from raw materials.  Also, recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills.  

Composting is also important to the environment. It saves water by helping the soil hold moisture and reduce water run-off. Instead of buying commercial soil, you can make your own organic soil from home, saving you some money. Composting also reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. 

To all of my busy families recycling and composting may sound time-consuming but it is really easy once you get the hang of it. 

Give your recycling a rinse when you do the dishes

Items that contain food or other liquids will cause contamination if they aren’t rinsed out, so save time and do your bit by using the leftover dishwater to rinse out your recyclables. It also means there won’t be dirty containers left in your kitchen causing a smell.

 Do your research about what you can and can’t recycle

To avoid wasting time standing over your bin wondering whether something can be recycled, go online and look up the recycling policy in your area. Find out where your local recycling center is and what your area’s curbside recycling program is. You need to research what they accept so you don’t end up throwing things away when you really don’t have to.

If you have to regularly travel back and forth to your recycling center, schedule it into your weekly routine.. Go prior to heading to the supermarket or after the school run.

Have somewhere to store your recyclables

Invest in a recycling bin for the kitchen and/or bathroom. This lets you conveniently collect your recyclables and save time on trips to the main recycling bin. Having the bins easily accessible makes it easier for the whole family involved. Be sure to teach the kids about what they can and can’t recycle too.

Avoid waste and find out if something’s recyclable at the source

When you’re in the supermarket, try to buy things with as little packaging as possible and if there is packaging, choose items with as much recycled content as possible. Become familiar with the different recycling codes that can appear on packaging and their meaning This will help you reduce waste and know if something is recyclable in your area right from the get-go.

Make getting rid of food waste easy with composting

The majority of kitchen waste is usually food waste. If your local council doesn’t have a food waste recycling program, why not start a compost heap in the garden? You can put most food waste in it from vegetable peelings to coffee grounds (though no meat or fish) and after a little while, you’ll have some nutrient-rich mulch for your garden.

 If you live in an urban setting and don’t have access to a garden, you can still compost. It is pretty easy, here are a few tips:

-Steer clear of adding a lot of really smelly or wet foods, like onion scraps, melons, or squash to your indoor compost.

-Add a handful or two of shredded paper or dry leaves to your compost every time you add food scraps. Coffee grounds also work well.  

-Turn and churn your compost regularly. This will help keep nats and insects out of your kitchen and home in general.

Below are a couple of sites/resources for people in urban areas who wants to compost

https://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/city-living/how-to-compost-guide-city-dwellers\ 

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/services/food-scraps-and-yard-waste-page

https://littlegreendot.com/composting-made-easy/