So you want to live so that you’re easier on the environment? Well, that’s a good start. Often, the easiest part is recycling and cutting down on the amount you contribute to the waste stream and the landfills. First of all, you’ll need to set up your system. In most areas, you are able to recycle paper, cans and some plastics. If you’re not sure, check with your local council as to what they’ve got facilities for recycling, and what they haven’t. Do not forget to inform your domestic cleaner about that as well.
Next, you’ll need to get the equipment for a recycling system. If your council is nice, they’ll provide you with recycling bins as a part of their waste-and-recycling collection system. If they aren’t, you’ll have to provide your own. The most eco-friendly way is cardboard boxes (which are themselves recyclable) or else using plastic bins. You may be able to pick up some cheap second hand bins if you don’t want to buy new ones.
Now, I can’t tell you exactly where to put your bins – or how many you should have, as I can’t see your kitchen (or your laundry or your office). And I don’t know if you have to protect food scraps from cats or sharp tins from small fiddly fingers. And I don’t know what pets you’ve got. But I’ll tell you one system that works for me, and you can adapt this to suit yourself.
* GOOS (Good On One Side) paper. This is stored flat in a cardboard box and is used for any pen and paper work that isn’t going public – rough drafts, shopping lists, telephone messages and kids’ drawings. This box lives in the home office
* Other paper and cardboard. I have a log fire, so I keep some of these as firestarters, plus other newspapers, etc. for spreading out under paintings, lining
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