We're Green!

After my post about all the shit Edna saves, I realized how much shit I THROW away. Once I made the realization, I began a personal research project on recycling.

I started with our trash collection company and didn't find anything on a recycling program. I looked into alternate trash companies serving our area with recycling programs. I found one. It would cost an additional $20 a month to recycle.

I went to our city website and there I found all the information on the city's program. The list of what they pick up, how they pick up, and where to get the bags to participate - bags that the city supplies without an additional charge. I was a little shocked at what I can recycle in our little city - plastics #1-#7, and batteries, in addition to glass, metal and paper.

I sent Jeremy to City Hall to pick up bags and ask a few questions. He called me at work. We pay $25 a year to participate in the city's recycling program. It comes from our mortgage escrow account and is paid in our city taxes. We've been paying to recycle all this time.

I found some recycling bins on the Internet and promptly ordered them to hold my recyclables in between the every 2 week pick up. I also have mentally rearranged my enclosed back porch/mudroom to accommodate this green new way of life once the bins arrive.

Jeremy has been in trouble a few times for recyclables found in the trash. He's learning and now he asks to make sure before he tosses.

I also thought more about the amount of batteries we go through and made the executive decision to order rechargeable batteries and a charger. These are fast chargers and can hold a charge for up to 24 months in storage. They're supposed to last longer than regular batteries without weakness in the device they're in. Each of the rechargeable batteries saves 999 regular batteries!

And we continue to participate in our local Freecycle and I encourage you to do the same. I'm always amazed at what people are looking for or have taken. I've offered stacks of magazines, an old door, some shoes - a bunch of stuff. I like it better than donating as it goes straight to someone rather than being sold to them. Of course, there are always the people looking for something for free, though I'd rather it went to them than to a landfill...

At the end of our first week of officially going green, I was proud to haul my herby-kirby to curb this morning - with only 3 bags of trash in it. I feel much better knowing I'm making the world a little better for all of our kids.