Prioritizing Our Recycling

After a summer of missing recycling day, complaining about the small and inconvenient recycling bins, and cajoling the family to throw the right stuff in the right container, I've had to adjust my recycling style. I have settled on recycling just plastic, aluminum cans, newspapers and some glass. These are the most valuable items in the recycling process, and they're also the easiest ones for me to handle.

They now recycle almost everything at the school, but they have launched a very ambitious program that makes it extremely easy to do. Every trash can sits side-by-side with a recycling can, and all I need to do is decide which to use. I take all of our old alkaline batteries to school, but nothing else. I'm still trying to make this as easy as possible, and carrying a bag full of old envelopes and such just don't seem to make the impact I'd like.

My biggest complaint are these darned recycling bins our trash company requires us to use at home. When will I get something easier to take to the curb? The family is willing to contribute to side-by-side containers, but then what? Too much of a good thing! So, I have my priority of recyclables, and until I get some help, cardboard and other useful products are still headed for the landfill. Curses, foiled again!