As I think I've mentioned before, it is not easy for my family to recycle. Despite living on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area, we are without curbside recycling pick-up. We save up our recyclables: #1 & 2 plastic, cans, glass, paper, and cardboard. Then, we take a monthly trip to the recycling center. So here is our set-up (about ready to make our trip, so excuse the mess):
This is our tower of recycling - large bins for our plastic, glass, paper, and cans. We simply move the bins into the car, dump, and return them to their corner in the garage.
These are bags of crushed soda cans that we (my husband mostly) have collected. We drink very little soda, so most of these cans have been picked up from the side of the road on a walk, or from my husbands work.
From all our recycling efforts, I have noticed that most of the plastic we use is actually #5. I see this plastic in our containers for yogurt, margarine, cream cheese, even some deli meats. If you hate dumping this plastic into landfills, I have news for you. Whole Foods has joined with Preserve to accept #5 plastic recycling in some areas. This program started a while ago but I just found out about it, so forgive me if this is old news for you. If you are interested in finding out which stores accept the plastic check out this site, the Gimme 5 program will also let you mail your #5 plastics (sorry they don't pay for shipping, the address is on the previous link). To learn more about Preserve and their recycled products check here.
No Whole Foods near you? Don't want to pay to mail your plastic? Make sure you check on Earth911 for a recycling center near you. And if worst comes to worst, try offering them on Freecycle. You never know what someone might want or need!
7 comments:
I'm so glad you posted this. John and I always end up throwing out what seems like too many things with the #5 stamp. This is GREAT!
This takes some serious dedication! Way to go! What my county does not pick we give to mu in-laws who live in the city where they take everything!
If you're willing to make a longer drive (I do this about once a month or so), I save the "other" plastics (3, 4, 5, and 7) and drive to West University. At the corner of Westpark and Dincans (behind Goode Co Seafood) they have a 24-hour recycling drop-off point. "The center accepts cardboard, home and office type paper, aluminum cans, bi-metal cans, plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7, and clear and colored glass." I also drop off my paperboard here (cereal boxes and the like). This can be another alternative for the rest of your plastic (except #6, which I cannot find recycled anywhere in the Houston area).
I'm glad you found the post useful Whitastic!
Thanks for the extra site info Jenn!
Oh wow! Thank you so much for letting me know about Whole Foods accepting number 5 plastic! that makes me so happy! i HATE hATe hATE throwing that stuff away!
we live in a recycling unfriendly area too. we have to go once a month, on the third saturday, to a collection site about 20 minutes away. and heaven forbid we have something going on and can't get there between 9 and noon! then our garage overflows for a while.
Krystal - Thanks for stopping by (and following!) I'm glad you found the post helpful!
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