Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Recycling

Recently, I read a blog by Susan called “Reducing How Much Trash We Produce”.  In her blog she talked about how her family recycles instead of using a trash service.  This blog was very inspiring to me.  We live in a rural area also where you have to pay for your trash pick-up service.  The service in our area has raised their fees twice since last summer. 

I began thinking about the types of trash we toss out.  After talking with my husband about the blog and her ideas, we have decided to recycle our trash.  In making the decision, the first step was to find out if there was a recycling center in our area.  The only one that we have in a nearby town is a feed store that collects aluminum cans for recycling.  We needed something that would take a larger range of items.  I did a search online and found Earth911.  This website not only has great ideas and blogs about recycling and conservation, but also a searchable directory of recycling centers.  You type in your zip code and then choose the distance you are willing to travel.  The search will give you a list of centers within your mileage range complete with details on the types of materials they accept for recycling.  We were able to find a center approximately 35 miles from home.  The center accepts aluminum cans, paper, several types of plastics, tin/steel cans like the ones canned foods come in, and glass.  There are other things that they accept, but these are the ones most trash consists of.  The only downside that we found is that the center pays only for the aluminum cans.  They do not pay for the other materials that you bring in.  They do ask that the food containers be rinsed out before recycling, something that we planned on doing anyways.  Beginning this month, we are canceling our trash service.  We will be able to make a trip once a month to the recycling center for less than the cost of the monthly trash service.  We have contacted others to let them know what we are doing & to offer to haul their recycle materials for them when we go.

We have been a part of Freecycle for a few years now.  Any usable items that we have no need for is offered on Freecycle.  If no one wants the items, we donate them to a charity.  This is a great way to pass on clothing, furniture, electronics and any other number of things that you may no longer have need of. 

Between Freecycling or donating the usable items and recycling our trash, we will have eliminated completely the need for trash service.  It will take a little more work than simply tossing things into a trash can to be hauled away.  The work though is a small thing.  The hardest part is developing the habit of rinsing out the food containers and sorting the trash.  We are setting up trash bins for each type of material to be recycled.  At the end of the month, we will only need to gather up each bin and haul it to the center.

I am so grateful that I found Susan’s blog.  She has so many great ideas and information that she shares through her writings.  What a blessing her blog has become to our family as it inspires us to make changes that will benefit our family both financially and in matters of our health.  I strongly encourage you to check her blog out if you have never done so before.  Susan, thank you for being so generous in your ideas and sharing of your knowledge.  I pray that the Lord blesses you and your family greatly as you continue to live the simple life.

Untitled Comment

11:37, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

Great post. We donate to our local thrift shop when we can (even old magazines I have read...they sell hem for 25 cents a piece), and we have ridded ourselves of several things with freecycle as well.

In our area, the trash bill is worked into our electricy bill, which I thought was nice at the moment to not have to pay two bills. I am wondering now if you have a choice not to pay it and take care of it yourself?? I will call them and see!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo