Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do as a planet to help preserve the environment.

Many of our household products and food containers are made up of recyclable materials. For example, things such as water bottles can be turned into lumber, clothing, and carpet.

The best way to recycle is to develop a system for your family to follow when they have an empty container or other recyclable item. Everyone should be aware of how to collect, prepare and sort the items prior to garbage day.

Develop a habit of rinsing out items immediately. Once items are clean, corral them into the designated collection area.

Let’s take a look at several ways to make recycling simple in your kitchen:

Baskets

The first thing you need to consider when beginning your recycling routine, is where you will put the items when they are ready.

This article suggests putting the recyclables into baskets with casters, so they can be easily hidden out of sight when not in use. Each basket should be labeled for it’s contents, such as: plastic, paper and glass.

This method would works well if you have a pantry or closet in your kitchen. They will stay out of view but can be accessed and moved around with ease.

This is also a great idea for families with small children. The baskets can be small and low to the ground, so little ones can help out and learn how to recycle at an early age.

Counter Top Storage

We often collect smaller items that need to be recycled, but we don’t know where to put them. They end up getting thrown away, instead of appropriately disposed of.

Consider using coffee cans on your kitchen counter to gather things such as batteries, pens, plastic bag ties and other small items.

You can decorate the cans to match your kitchen with gift wrap, patterned duct tape or paint. It is an easy and inexpensive solution that makes recycling easier.

Pull Out Bins

If you are remodeling your kitchen or starting from scratch, you may want to include a pull out bin cabinet.

This is a simple way to collect all of your recyclables in one spot. It will be hidden from view but will be easily accessible and convenient as well. You can still separate the items according to their category, by using a multi-container pull out system.

If you are interested in adding a pull out recycle bin to your cabinets, contact a professional designer. They will be able to show you all of the available options for your price point and size of your kitchen.

Compartmentalized Bin

If you have the floor space, you may opt for getting a compartmentalized garbage bin. This can be used as a side by side trash and recyclable combination. You may also want to use it to separate two types of recyclables, such as plastic and paper.

These bins are available in stainless steel and have a streamlined and clean appearance.

Many of these bins feature touchless sensors which open the lid. Your hands will stay sanitary and your recyclables will be conveniently collected.

Conclusion

By following the methods described above, you should be easily be able to incorporate recycling into your lifestyle. Once this system is put in place, recycling properly will become a habit.

The world can be preserved with a little effort from each of us. Let’s all do our part to go green and recycle as much as we can.

For further reading, check out: Avoid Using These Colors In Your Kitchen and How To Layout Your New Kitchen.

Image: Flickr