Recycling Equipment: Items You Can Buy To Create Your Own Home Recycling Center
If you have made the decision to go "all in" with recycling, then you need some solutions you can set up around your home to make that happen. There are some products you can buy to help you create your own recycling center, but there are also a few you can create to help with the process. Here are some helpful tips to get you started.
Clear a Space in Your Garage or on Your Enclosed Porch
First, before you get all of your recycling equipment together, you will need a large enough space to accommodate it all. One side of your garage is adequate, either inside or out (although inside would be better because everything is out of the elements then). You can also use your enclosed porch space, if you have one, or part of your sunroom or four seasons room.
A Table and Drawers
An old, beat-up table is the first thing you should add, followed by several drawers that can hold twine, scissors, black permanent markers and anything else you might need. The table's surface will help you stack old newspapers and paper bags and tie them with twine before tossing them into your paper recycling bin. The table should be at least waist high and wide enough to function as a work table.
Recycling Bins
Have one bin for steel, one bin for aluminum, one bin for "unknown" metal cans, one bin just for paper, one bin for cardboard and one bin for corrugated cardboard. If you find that you send and receive many packages, you may also want a bin for Styrofoam and another for foam packing inserts. You should also have at least one bin for plastics, although some people have more than one in order to separate out the several different grades of plastic. The grades are marked as numbers within the recycling triangles on the bottoms or backs of the containers. Use permanent black marker to clearly label all of your bins.
Can Crushers
Can crushers are wall-mountable devices that help you crush cans. There are automated electric versions and there are manual versions with a pull-down crank handle. If you want to be ultra-conservative, the manual ones are the better option so you do not waste valuable electric energy on a recycling task. Place the can crusher on the wall where your personal recycling center sits, and be sure to put your aluminum recycling bin right underneath it to collect the cans you crush.
Click here for more information about recycling equipment for your home.
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