Recycling On the Go

We’re conscious about recycling when we’re at home. With these ideas, we can continue our good recycling habits even when we’re on the go.

When you’re out and about, whether running errands, meeting friends for lunch, or shopping, what do you do with your recyclables? If you get a bottle of water with lunch, for example, or a soft drink out of a machine, what do you do with the container once it’s empty?

Newspapers, disposable cups, plastic flatware, and miscellaneous packaging are hard to dispose of on the go. A few cities have public recycling bins by the curb, but such bins are uncommon. What’s a consumer to do?

There are some things you can do to recycle on the go. Here are some ideas to help keep your recycling commitments away from home

On-the-go Recycling

[ad#ad-2] * Carry a folded cloth bag with you in your purse or backpack. Toss your used plastic bottles, metal cans, paper, etc. into the bag. Thankfully, these items are lightweight. Put the bag into your car and take it home to recycle properly, or carry it to a proper bin.

* Transport your own bins in your car. You can simply keep a bin or two in your vehicle. This has the added bonus of you being able to drop off your items at a recycling center while you’re already out, thus saving gas.

For the proverbial ounce of prevention, try reducing your generation of recyclables to begin with. Here are some suggestions.

1. Use a travel mug or reusable water bottle when you’re out. Then you won’t have to look for a recycling bin for your plastic water bottle or to-go cup from a restaurant.

2. Pass the paper – When you’re finished reading the newspaper on the bus or other public transportation, pass it along to someone else. The same goes for magazines or other reading material that you’d normally recycle.

3. Set up a program in your community – If you’d like for recycling to be easier for people on the go, you can work to set up a program in your own community. The problem of recycling while away from home has been addressed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has developed initiatives to encourage recycling on the go. Their website has tips on how to start your own community recycling program, with suggestions about where to place bins at various venues and other helpful suggestions.

Just because you are away from home and your recycling routine, does not mean you have to toss your used items into a trash can. With some creativity and a willingness to make some changes, you can make a habit of recycling on the go.

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