Recycling in general

**breley** · 02-21-09, 07:08 AM

One of the disadvantages of getting up early and supplying my brain with caffeine is that I start pondering far too many things at once. While taking out the garbage the other day it occurred to me how odd it seemed that I only take out one garbage container a week, whereas most of the neighbors on my street take out two or more. Then I noticed that my recycle bin was much fuller than many of the others, so now I'm wondering how effective our local recyclers are at explaining what items can be recycled, because there are quite a number of things that are accepted.

I'm curious how other communities enable or run their recycling programs, here in the US or elsewhere.

Box · 02-21-09, 07:22 AM

Here in Germany we have

a brown Bio Bin
a blue Paper Bin
a black everything else Bin (this is the one you pay for each time they empty it)
Yellow bags for plastic and metal
big recycling bins everywhere for glass
Most cans and bottle have a refund policy

If you separate you rubbish properly you rarely fill the Black bin.
Having different bins in the kitchen is simple and once you get used to it it comes naturally.

**breley** · 02-21-09, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Box

If you separate you rubbish properly you rarely fill the Black bin.
Having different bins in the kitchen is simple and once you get used to it it comes naturally.

Yes. We do something akin to this, with different containers for different items. Cans and bottles go in one container, papers and cardboard boxes in another. In the summer I compost some of the organics for my garden. Since I make stocks for sauces or soups, I can do at least one "recycle" round for scraps of meat and large bones and parts of vegetables.

We are given one large red recycle bin to combine all our recyclables in, which doesn't seem efficient to me.

At work we take the coffee grounds home to put in with acid-loving plants.

Box · 02-21-09, 07:50 AM

I have a unique coffee ground recycling receptacle, it's often referred to by others as the third floor kitchen window.

Gigi · 02-21-09, 09:31 AM

Here garbage day comes once a week. Every week, we can take out organic waste, but only every other week can we take out regular waste and other recyclables (alternating weeks - i.e., one week garbage, one week recyclables).

Also, the amount of regular garbage we take out is limited by the size of the city-provided garbage bin. There is an annual fee for use of these bins; the larger the bin, the higher the rates. If you go with the smallest sized bin, you get a rebate instead. If you have more garbage than your bin will hold, you need to purchase special tags for the extra garbage bags you put out.

bpatsy58 · 03-03-09, 12:05 PM

No formal collection program. Save it yourself and find local pit stops that will still take it. They claim to be losing money adn may stop for now.

baylee500 · 04-26-09, 04:25 PM

I make and sell rain collection barrels...been doing it for two years now....

johnhu_2005 · 04-26-09, 04:40 PM

Bah, no formal recycling program. The recycling plant is insanely far away, definitely not worth the drive.
I do my best to reuse any electronic equipment and reuse "stuff" in general.

Still, I just recently learned I'm utilizing 75 acres of land a day because of my habits... :cry"