What are some ways I can recycle when I live in an apartment building?

Question

I live in an apartment building where there are many apartments and tenants. It is a one bedroom apartment that I have. All of my storage is completely in use ( I have one closet, kitchen cupboards, and space under my sinks, all completely in use). I am not allowed to leave items in the hallway or put stuff outside. So how can I collects items to recycle without it being an eyesore inside my apartment and without attracting bugs? What kind of stuff could I recycle that would be apartment friendly?

Answer 1

First, REDUCE what you buy. Think about what kind of waste is generated by the things you purchase, stay away from items that generate a lot of waste.  Second, try reorganizing or getting rid of some of the things you don't need that are taking up space. Freecycle, goodwill, even your local hazardous waste collection (http://earth911.org/) are all good ways of getting rid of unwanted/unneeded items.

If you can find or make room for a few small bins for sorting, you can recycle things like paper, cardboard, paperboard, plastics #1- 7, cans, and glass. Things such as furniture, clothes, electronics, etc. can be recycled through groups such as Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/). Use the earth911 link above to find other locations around you where you can take things you don't want or need.  Old chemical products such as cleaning products, batteries, and CFL bulbs can be taken to your local hazardous waste collection which can be found either through your city or earth911.

If you have plants or know someone who does, you can recycle your food scraps (no meat or dairy items) in a kitchen composter or get a small composter bin for your patio. Here is a link about composting:

http://www.compostguide.com/

Try getting in touch with your city to see how you can bring recycling to your apartments.

When you do take all your things for recycling, try doing them all in one trip, to reduce the emissions from your car.

good luck and thanks for doing your part!

Answer 2

Try to buy only what you need. When you do go shopping try to avoid too much packaging. Buy things from a second hand shop, sometimes you can buy brand named clothes for next to nothing. If you don't need something don't hoard it. Try and freecycle websites in your area to recycle any unwanted items you may have finished with. You can also buy vacum space saving bags which reduce the amount of space you are creating for clothes.

Answer 3

you can get bins under your sink that when u open the door they come out, and have different sections for compost, paper, plastic and glass etc! Don't woz we ave one under the sink and there is still enough room for other stuff!

Cut down on paper usage and send away ur ink cartridges to be refilled!

Look at these!

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/sto...

or

http://www.thebincompany.com/acatalog/Un...

Answer 4

If you have a computer with a printer, consider keeping your old printouts in the lid of a computer paper box and writing on the other side of the paper before taking them down to a recycling center.

I think your best option is to reduce waste rather than increase recycling.  Take a look at what you are throwing out or considering for the recycling bin.  For instance, if you are collecting plastic grocery bags to take to recycling, consider buying a "permament" (nylon / cotton) grocery bag online and taking it to the store with you.  Use glass glasses instead of paper cups.  And so on.

Make a point of locating your closest recycling center and consider making more frequent trips -- by bicycle.

Just a few thoughts.

Good luck, and thanks for recycling.