How are you going to reduce, reuse & recycle more in 2010?
So we reach the end of another year – a time to look back and look forward.
Looking back at 2009, it’s been a cracking year for Recycle This – I’ve posted 204 articles and you wonderful people have left more than 3450 comments! We’ve also nearly doubled the amount of “unique visitors” to the site over the last year too – hopefully a sign that more and more people are keen to reuse and recycle more things, more often.
I finally got around to redesigning the site in May – something I’d been meaning to do for ages – which I think/hope has made it easier for people to find the most common items and related articles. We’ve also introduced a few new features, How can I reduce this? and How can I repair this? – I hope to push those ideas a lot further in the next few months so if you have any suggestions of things you want to reduce/repair, do get in touch and we’ll brainstorm some ideas for you.
Which brings me neatly onto what I intended to be the focus for this post – what are your reducing, reusing and recycling goals in 2010?
Personally, I’m going to continue working on cutting back my addiction to cheap clothes – everyone’s suggestions have been very useful, thanks so much guys – and I’m hoping to bulk cook more to stop us reaching for, for example, supermarket pizzas when we need to eat quickly or packaging-heavy biscuits when we need a snack. I’m also hoping to reuse a lot of packaging in our new garden and I’m going to set up dedicated bins for things we can’t doorstep recycle to make it easier for us to recycle them elsewhere. What are you going to do?
See you in the new decade!
I’m glad you asked.
I recently started a site that aims to answer that very question ( http://www.recycleallyear.com ). What can I do more to recycle all the materials I accumulate, reduce and reuse other materials throughout the year? All too often I feel that awareness spikes related to certain recyclable materials (ie. grass clippings, aluminum, etc.) aren’t sustained throughout the year, just isolated to recycling day or awareness day.
My plan, similar to what you’ve done with your site, is to find out if items I would have normally chucked in the bin can be reused or safely recycled in our area and build a better habit around that new found knowledge.
If I can help to raise awareness and change a few other peoples’ habits, that’s even better.
Here’s to increased recycling and reuse in 2010.
Free Give means free stuff, free recycling and a cleaner environment. Freegive is made up of groups with members across the world. Freegive connects people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. This is an easy way to reduce the clutter in your home and help someone else at the same time. Clear out your cupboards, attics, sheds and garages with minimal effort. Working or easily repairable goods, such as furniture, recycle toys, recycle car parts, recycle beds, recycle sofas anything that is taking up space can be passed on to someone else if you are upgrading your own. Best of all, it’s completely free to join. Visit freegive home page at ( http://www.freegive.co.uk )
Freegive group is active in all London Boroughs, United Kingdom, USA and other countries across the world, find a group near you at ( http://www.freegive.co.uk/groups.htm )
Simply post details of your unwanted item on your local group and then arrange for whoever wants it to come and collect it. Another benefit of using Freegive is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process. By using Freegive, not only are you able to get rid of your item with the minimum of fuss; you will also be doing your part in stopping another reusable item ending up in a landfill and, at the same time, helping someone in your community by gifting them the item you no longer need. The only rule is that everything posted are free. There is no charge for this, it’s completely free to join. Visit Freegive homepage at ( http://www.freegive.co.uk )
Please can you pass the word around to your friends, family, co-workers, classmates, make an announcement at your professional or social organization, church members, workmates and help freegive.co.uk grow bigger and stronger.
Summary: everyone should join!
Fab goals for 2010 – good luck with those and congrats on the ever increasing interest in your site. It’s a wonderful resource with some fab suggestions. keep up the great work and have a prosperous and healthy year :)
Happy New Year!
I’m going to be reducing my tobacco consumption by giving up smoking – day 2 today!
xxx
For 2010 i’ve got a new house and plan to put into action the things i’ve been nagging my family about for years. The previous owners have left me a compost bin which as it’s already march i have a pile of garden waste ready to go in. My recycle bin is being used regularly, the bulbs are all of the energy saving variety and instead of buying a load of shiny new things i have reused loads of bits and bobs of furniture and kitchen ware from family and friends. I have so far even managed to get my grandads old tobacco tins to sort out the diy bits like nails and screws.
Next i need to work on my clothes and makeup and get myself and my other half away from the telly a bit more often!