All right, its time to talk about recycling. Of course we know why should do it–it helps save the planet, keeps useful metals and parts from spending ages in rotting landfills, and saves our precious water supplies from being infected by toxic wastes and chemical runoff, so on and so on…but how about doing it? That’s a little harder. It’s one thing to put aside plastics or paper when the city sets out trash cans for them, but another to really try to Recycle with a capital R.

But don’t let the idea get you down! Recycling can make a huge difference in how we treat the planet and feels good, too. From simple objects like batteries to complicated electronics, a vast number of the things most people throw away without a second thought are accepted by recycling centers around the country. Reports say that almost 80% of our throw-away items can be recycled–imagine your trash cans only 20% full!

Not only is recycling a great way to save the environment, it also supports the economy and job growth, since over a million people currently work in the recycling industry, and the number is expected to grow. And really it’s no surprise–what can’t be recycled? There are seven rated types of plastic alone, four of which can be easily recycled, and only the first two go in the recycling bins collected by cities. Add to this almost every type of paper you use including even books, and with these two categories alone your trash/recyclable ratio is looking a lot better.

Then there’s a smorgasbord of items you may not think can be recycled, but have all sorts of unexpected uses! With a tiny bit of research, you can find ecological centers and donation companies that will be happy to accept stuff like beach balls (reusable with a bit of patching), old backpacks (perfect for groups like the American Bird Association), crayons (yes–there is a crayon recycling program!), and cell phones. For a much more complete list, check out http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/tips-techniques/recycle-anything-00000000006117/.

Finding Vendors/Centers

I know–down at the nuts and bolts of the matter, recycling can sometimes be a pain. There’s a lot of different kinds of material, and knowing what can be recycled and what can’t, where things should go, and how items should be separated is all quite a chore. But here’s good news: all it takes is a little organization, some help from the whole family, and a small amount of research. You’ll be amazed out how the once-hard project becomes both easy and fun!

The first step is to find the companies and centers that can take your recyclable items. Not all of these centers advertise, and some may be a little hard to find, but this is where the research comes in. Some sites have compiled excellent resources, letting you search your particular city or state to find recycling options. Try http://earth911.com/‘s excellent search engine if you’re having trouble finding out specific information.

Bins and Boxes

The most famous recycling tool is of course those bright plastic bins the city collects from the sidewalk. A lot of cities have larger recycling cans and recycling dumpsters, too, but these are used mostly for things that do not need to be separated. Be sure to learn what type of paper or plastic goes in each bin, and what kinds won’t be accepted. Some centers are single-stream and sort out recyclables themselves, while others are dual-stream and need to have recyclables separated prior to picking them up.

For many types of recycling, you’ll need to borrow or create your own bins to hold particular types of items. Don’t worry, you don’t need a whole line of bins stretching in front of your door! The garage or laundry room make good places to store these separated items, with a bin for aluminum, a bin for glass, a bin for plastic grocery bags, and so on. Sometimes you can call someone to pick up these items, and sometimes you will need to take them to the recycling center yourself. Many centers offer cash payments for the recyclables, making the deal that much sweeter.

For the more complicated items like MP3 players or CDs, you might have to do some packaging yourself. Some websites, such as www.Recycleforbreastcancer.org, will give you pre-paid shipping labels for some items, while other organizations like greendisk.com will be happy to accept your old CDs.

Family Recycling

One of the best ways to learn recycling habits is to involve the whole household. Teaching your kids responsible recycling practices can be easy–you can learn together to look for recyclable stickers, or divide materials amongst yourselves, with each family member responsible for a different type of item. Posting up a list of things that can be recycled is a big help, as is splitting the money you make from recycling trips!