Trash Talk: Home Recycling Systems
By Peter Thoits, Gray Solid Waste & Recycling Committee

Back in July we launched a discussion of home recycling systems by stating that your "system" can be seen as made up of five elements: leadership, the materials being recycled, the "tools" you use, the family members, and the process of recycling. In this edition I'll discuss leadership.

Take me to your leader!

Who's the recycling leader in your household? Is it one person or two or all of you? How do you identify a recycling leader? A leader "walks the walk", that is he or she actively recycles. A leader is the one who actively pursues information about recycling. A leader teaches and "sells" recycling. A leader recruits and urges cooperation in recycling. Who's your recycling leader?

Follow the leader!

If you're the recycling leader in your household, it's because you believe in it. You're committed to it. By paying attention to the other elements of your system, you can increase the help and the level of cooperation from the other members of your family and probably the amount of trash you recycle as well!

How much and what kinds of materials do you consistently recycle? Newspapers and magazines? Cans and bottles? Junk mail? Cardboard? Food packaging? Compostable food scraps?

Look at the "tools" you use to recycle. Is it one grubby bin in an inconvenient corner of the kitchen? Maybe that's not enough. Is it too small for the volume of recycling you can do? What's available?

Who in your family generates the most materials that can be recycled? Do they acknowledge the material and help with your efforts? How do other family members feel about recycling?

How does your recycling process work? Do cans and jars get rinsed? Does food packaging get emptied before going in the bin? Do recyclables get sorted at the time you throw them out or at the dump? Do you teach? If so how and how often? Do you label containers? Do you praise and thank others for their help?

Leading up to what?

If you're the leader, give some thought to the system in your house. And weigh in on this discussion! We'll examine each of the other elements in later editions!

Feel free to join us at our monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of every month, or send your ideas or comments to the Gray Solid Waste & Recycling Committee care of pthoits2@maine.rr.com or call Solid Waste Director Randy Cookson at 657-2343.