Every year recyclable material ends up clogging our already inundated landfills, waterways and roadsides. Many people think it is a difficult undertaking to organize a recycling center at home. However, with some creativity and commitment, it can be easily done. You'll feel better for doing your part to care for the environment too.



Find a convenient place in your home or apartment for the center. It doesn't take much room for your recyclables. The garage, a storage closet, corner of the kitchen, or under your kitchen sink all make great locations. Find and clearly label containers in which to store your recycled materials. Plastic buckets, storage containers or even trash cans work great depending on the amount of room you have available.

Get your family actively involved in the recycling process. Make sure they all are aware of what products can be recycled. Teach them the difference between the aluminum can bin and the tin can bin. While doing their weekly chores, teach them to be on the lookout for recyclable material lying around the house, and encourage them to place them in the proper storage bins.

Encourage them to come up with ideas for reducing the amount of recycled material that's consumed by your household. Take them along with you to the recycling center in your neighborhood so they can witness the process firsthand. Show them how they can reuse recyclable materials in their own organizational efforts at home. Perhaps a large cardboard box can double as a bin for all their shoes, or a coffee can be repurposed as a penny bank.

When they see the money that can be both saved and earned from recycling and reusing products, they will have developed an environmentally healthy and thrifty habit for life.