3 Tips to Make Recycling Easier

Doing what we can for the environment is more important than ever nowadays – although our individual footprints might not have the most impact, it’s still helpful to look at how we can make a positive change.

Recycling is a big part of this – reducing the amount of waste we produce that just sits in landfills can help take a major strain off the environment. But recycling can be a slightly daunting exercise to figure out.

A lot of different regulations about what can be recycled when and where and can make it hard to get into the swing of recycling even when we really want to. That’s why we’ve put together three major tips to help with getting into the recycling groove.

1. Get Organised. Get Together

One of the best things to do is organise your recycling into a proper routine. At the start it can be a little tiresome remembering where everything has to go and when. Take the time to study the ins and outs of how you’ll be recycling, and work out a routine for making sure it happens. It becomes much easier when you’re carrying out a task you’ve set for yourself.

If you live with people and you can extend this attitude to your entire household, even better. Getting into a routine can be even easier if everyone is playing a specific part – and it’ll mean that a whole house of people is drastically improving their waste disposal habits.

Reminding people of the benefits is also a great way of organising yourself – it can be hard to tangibly see what recycling actually provides as an exercise, but if you can remind people of how much good it can do, you’ll cultivate a communal spirit that makes recycling seem natural.

If you can extend this attitude to your neighbourhood or community, you’ll really be flying. Making recycling one big communal task that you can all play a part in will seem so much easier than standing alone in front of your bin figuring out whether or not you can put that plastic tub in with the rest of them. And it could really help a good mindset reach a wider area.

2. Make Sure You’re Recycling Properly

Obviously something that comes with cultivating this approach (both individually and communally) is making sure that you have all the right tools for recycling. You want to make sure you have whichever bins you need for whichever products, so that you can recycle on demand as you need it.

And it might cost a little to begin with, but it’s worth looking into things like composting – if you can put a composting system together at home you’ll be able to get rid of any biological waste with almost perfect efficiency – you’ll even side-step the need for your bio-waste to be picked up, and help the environment out that way.

It’s also worth looking into what services are available that can help you recycle things that are slightly trickier. Online tech recycling sites are convenient for selling old iPads, iPhones, tablets, and other small gadgets. It’s also possible to get your electronics like fridges and TVs picked up and recycled. For example, Currys run a service that recycles over 65000 tonnes of electrical goods each year.

You can also think of ways to recycle creatively. Take a look at something you’re about to throw out, and ask if it can serve another purpose – can the jam jar you’re about to throw out hold your trinkets, or can the bottle you’re about to chuck become a vase? Re-using something is ideal because not only are you cutting down on your waste, you’re avoiding the waste that comes with a new purchase.

3. Push for Wider Change Regarding Recycling

One of the most important things you can do to make recycling easier is campaign for wider changes in the recycling practices of your local (or national) government. A more proactive attitude on recycling from your council could make things that much easier. They could offer more opportunities to recycle, make recycling services more easily available, and alter the way that they approach the sustainability of their own practices.

Some governments have become so efficient at disposing of their waste that they have to import rubbish from other countries. If local and national governments can be pushed to re-assess their approach to recycling, it could make radically change waste disposal for the better – and make it easier for everyone to live cleanly.