There's no doubt that recycling benefits the environment. But to pitch in to do your part, you need an efficient way to collect those stacks of newspapers and piles of empty cans and bottles. Fortunately, as the saying goes, one person's trash is another's treasure. In this case, cabinetry companies and storage-product manufacturers are now offering accessories that adapt their wares to this application. And professional designers and organizers have come up with their own simple strategies for dealing with household recyclables.
Whether you are improving an existing recycling area in your home or starting from scratch, you need to know three things: local recycling rules; pickup schedules or drop-off center hours; and the quantity of each type of recyclable your family generates in a week. This information will help you determine the size of the containers you need and how much overall space will be required for recycling.
If space is tight or if your family produces a lot of recyclables, consider a two-stage plan. Devote a small amount of space in the kitchen for day-to-day needs, and place the bulk of the storage in the garage or in outdoor garbage cans. Because you don't need to clean them, newspapers and magazines are the easiest to move out of the kitchen. Keep in mind, though, you really won't want to keep unwashed items in living areas for more than a day or two because of odor and insect concerns.
