If you’re like me and try to recycle as much as you can, but don’t have curbside recycling, sorting and storing everything can get crazy! No one wants their recycling to take over their home, especially if you live in a small space. So, I’m going to walk you through how to set up a recycling station in your home using my own as an example.
Decide on a location
First and foremost you need to decide where you want your recycling station to live. For me, most of my recycling comes from my kitchen. My kitchen is my filing center, mail center, and mudroom, in addition to being a kitchen.
I had a bit of extra room in a nook in my kitchen, so I put my recycling station there since I am lazy. My motto is work smarter, not harder, so I want recycling to be as easy as possible for me. It’s like home organizers always say, choose a system that works for you and that you’ll actually be able to maintain.
Put your recycling station wherever you think it will both fit and be most convenient for you to use.
Decide what to recycle
After picking a location, you’ll need to figure out how many things you’re going to recycle. For instance, I recycle plastic #1 & #2, plastic #5, glass, paper, plastic bags for store drop-off, and for several TerraCycle brigades. These are things I can either mail off for recycling or can take to the recycling drop-off about two hours away every couple months.
Choose things that you can actually recycle and that you actually have coming into your home. I’m part of a couple TerraCycle brigades that I don’t consistently have items for, so I don’t have a spot for them. I only have spots for things I am recycling regularly.
Decide what to collect in
Next, you’ll need to decide what to collect your recycling in. Try to reuse things you already have, and get creative! I currently use an old computer desk to hold my local recycling (as you can see in the first image of this post), and a plastic container for all my TerraCycle items (pictured above).
I save plastic mailers that my packages come in, especially the resealable ones, and use those for all my TerraCycle stuff. This way when they fill up, they’re already ready to mail and just need a shipping label.
I use cardboard boxes and a large reusable tote for my local recycling. This keeps it hidden from view and looking tidy. It also makes it easy for hauling.
Since I only take recycling to drop-off every couple of months, due to the distance, I do end up having to move some recycling to plastic tubs in my garage after the containers inside are full. I simply empty the containers in my kitchen into the plastic tubs & put the tubs back in the garage.
You can collect in anything that works for you and that you like. If you have a dresser that’s empty, you could collect in that. If you have a lot of space, you could use large trash cans for each type of recycling.
Now Go Do It!
There may be some trial and error to find a system that works for you. Keep trying until you find one that works for you and encourages you to recycle.
I hope this has helped inspire you to set up a recycling station in your home, and to find a way to recycle what you can that works for you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else! You are on your own journey to living a more sustainable life and you need to do what works for you.
Let me know if you set up your own station & tag me (@sustainablyhaley on all socials) if you take pictures!
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