Recycling can seem overwhelming, but it’s the simplest of household tasksthat even the kids can help out and learn how much of a difference it makes on ourenvironment by reducing the trash volume.

The first step is to know what recycling options are available where you live. For instance, Roanoke City and Vinton provides a curbside service. If you live in Roanoke Co, Salem, and Franklin Co. you have to haul your materials to drop off locations. Most locations accept mixed paper or just newspapers, plastics 1-7 or just 1-2. Roanoke City accepts glass, but other areas do not. Check with your area to find out what items are accepted.

Encourage kids to recycle by assigning them to be in charge of a specific material. They can learn new things that can be recycled around the home.  Once you find out what is accepted, decide where you want to place your containers and what sizes to use.  Containers can be found at the local home store such as storage totes with lids, small trash cans, crates, or even old laundry baskets or small shipping cardboard boxes. And the kids can have a fun time decorating or labeling them per material.  

Use different sized containers for different areas of the home. For instance,a small used shipping box can be placed in the home office so that junk mail and go straight into the box as well as other mixed paper. A small trash can be placed under the kitchen sink to put aluminum cans, and another for steel. You can also have another smaller trash can labeled as plastics that can go next to your regular trash—having all waste containers near each other makes it easier. And once these are filled, you can have a larger container in the garage or outside to empty them into. Kids can also help crush the aluminum cans, and then when they have enough stored, they can turn it into money and use it to get a treat!

Once you take the initial step and small investment in getting the totes or even reusing something else….with a little organization, anyone can do it! If recycling still seems too confusing, GPS Curbside Recycling service makes it even easier. All you need is 2 containers, one for paper/cardboard, the other foreverything else—which is more than the recycling trailers accept, such as glass, Styrofoam, all paper/cardboard, plastics 1-7, packing peanuts, batteries, and household donations. Just place the containers by the curb and we’ll collect them from you every other week!

For more information GPS Recycling visit their website at www.gpsrecycling.com