Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

For some reason, I absolutely LOVE to recycle. I don't know where this came from. Maybe because I grew up in Washington state and have always recycled. I think it's a great idea. Why fill up landfills with waste that can be reused? 

There was a time when I didn't recycle, but not necessarily due to my own choice. When I lived in Utah, while attending BYU, they didn't offer recycling services where I lived. In fact, Utah doesn't recycle, which I think is retarded. I guess some people can now, because my mother-in-law does, but I believe you have to pay extra. Anyways, I always felt awful for throwing away an empty can of corn or a plastic bottle because it seemed like such a waste.

Fast forward a few years to when we moved to CA. We lived in an apartment and for the first 5 months of living there, I didn't know there was a dumpster specifically for recycling. I was so happy when I finally found out. 

As I have resumed my recycling endeavors, I have been extremely surprised at how many things are recyclable-my floss container, the bag my baby carrots comes in, the produce bags they offer at the store for you to put your produce in, the plastic wrap covering a head of lettuce, small lotion bottles, some lids to milk jugs, the tiny bottle of contact cleanser, plastic grocery bags, most hard plastic type coverings on different products (the kind you have to cut with scissors because it's too difficult to tear by hand), the protective plastic on dry cleaning clothes, plastic bread bags, etc. The list goes on and on! I've also noticed that just about any small ziploc type bag (ones used to hold game pieces, screws, small parts) have the recycle symbol on it now. In addition, I have seen the recycle symbol on a lot of plastic tupperware containers. Many times the recycle symbol is very small and not very obvious. A lot of times I have to search to see if there is one. Most of the time I just put something in the recycle even if there isn't a symbol. I figure, heck, if it's not recyclable, the people at the center will know better than me and can throw it away. If it is recyclable, they'll know that too (most likely). 

Basically, just about anything plastic is now recyclable. There are also the obvious items-water bottles, cardboard boxes, empty cereal boxes, large plastic bottles, even the cardboard from toilet paper rolls and paper towels, etc. Honestly, whenever I see that something is recyclable, it makes me happy. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. I guess I feel like I'm doing my part to not create more waste.

It's easy to not think about it and toss it in the garbage. I encourage everyone reading this to start looking for things that can be recycled and to recycle them. Even if it means keeping a bag around to put it in and when you're out running errands, drop it off at a recycle center (if you don't currently have services to pick it up).  I keep a paper bag next to our garbage for such items. I've also found that since so many things are recyclable, that our garbage doesn't get very full and I go through a lot less garbage bags, thus saving money. :)

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE!!!