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Unclutter Your Life

Recycling 101: Setting Up A System

10/15/2020

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Recycling: you know how important it is, but you're not sure how to do it "right."
If this sounds like you, you likely fall into one of three buckets:
  1. You are worried you will do it "wrong," so you opt not to do it at all; you don't want to ask questions that you feel like you should already know.
  2. You put everything with a recycle symbol in your neighborhood recycling bin without realizing that many recyclables cannot all be recycled together. Read more about material contamination here. 
  3. It seems like too much work/time-consuming.
I know this because I have fallen into each of these three buckets at some point in time.

I feel so inspired by many of my clients' dedication and desire to recycle properly of the items they're discarding, and I feel like I have a responsibility to educate myself on the topic so I can do better myself and for you.

In the past 48 hours, I have done a few things:
  • I have been taking a few extra SECONDS to look up where I am supposed to recycle every object that I'm discarding (with a recycle symbol).
  • I emailed my local recycling facility with questions I had (I visited my city's Public Works webpage to obtain contact information).
  • Based on what I'm learning, I have set up several recycling zones in my house, based on where I am noticing recyclable items keep surfacing. So far, all are in my kitchen; I will soon be setting one up in the office for plastic bags, as well.
  • My kitchen recycling zones consist of:
  1. Glass and Plastic Cans/Bottles (curbside pickup)
  2. Paper/Cardboard (curbside pickup)
  3. Plastic Bags (store drop-off) - for me, these will go to Target
  4. Batteries/Other Recyclables (recycling facility drop-off) - for me, these items will be taken to SOCRRA​
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The kitchen is where I notice the majority of our recyclable waste tends to collect, and it is a central location in our house. For that reason, the items we most frequently dispose of need zones IN THE AREA THEY ACCUMULATE. Let me say it another way: convenience is ESSENTIAL for consistency! 

I anticipate the small tin I have designated for Batteries/Other Recyclables under the sink to fill up rather quickly, so I set up several larger bins in the basement to collect and separate items that eventually need to go to a recycling facility. My goal is to do a quarterly drop-off, or as necessary. With these bins, I will be able to keep items sorted by type (ex. batteries, paint, electronics, household cleaners).
  • Please note that where and what types of items that can be recycled will vary by city/location. For your ongoing reference, I highly recommend using the website https://search.earth911.com/ to see where you can recycle specific items (they even have an app you can download on your phone for quick reference)!
  • You know those clear recycling bags you can purchase at the store? Those can't always be used in your recycle bin.  Check with your city to find out what can and cannot be picked up with curbside pickup.

I felt compelled to share this information because I imagine that, like myself, many people WANT to recycle, know the importance of it, yet lack the foundational knowledge and a system to do it properly.

Always remember that learning is continuous and it is never too late to start a good habit.

I hope this system helps set you up for success to recycle with confidence and pride!
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Organize Your Kitchen + Reduce Food Cost

5/5/2020

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6 Benefits of Properly Managing Your Food During Quarantine + Beyond

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On March 12th, at 7:45 AM, as I briskly walked through Target down the bare aisles of where paper towel and pasta were supposed to be, it hit me that what we were about to go through was going to have a significant impact on our lives. Forty-five minutes later, panic had begun to set in. 
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Thoughts of "how long will this shopping trip be able to sustain us for if we can't leave to get more food?" followed by "how much is this going to cost, where will I put it all, and how do I make sure we don't waste any of it?" flooded my mind.

I imagine many people experienced similar thoughts the first time (if not the first few times) they went to the store at the start of this pandemic.

Many people are facing these roadblocks:
  • Lack of kitchen space
  • No organization systems in place
  • Bought a lot of food but have limited time to eat perishables before they expire

How does one combat these issues?
Creating a plan and managing pantry and fridge organization, similar to how you would organize your closet, is essential.  By following these six steps, you can develop sustainable habits that will extend beyond quarantine, and it will save you time and money in the long-run.

The 6 Steps:
  1. Clean out your pantry and fridge (this is the most critical step, START HERE!)
  2. Take inventory of what you have
  3. Create shopping lists (and stick to them) - see my free downloadable PDF, below!
  4. Stretch your wallet by planning your meals and grocery list, taking extra precaution with your perishable food to preserve freshness
  5. Categorize, Label, & Create Homes for your food (check out my favorite products here)
  6. Visualize how a clutter-free and organized kitchen will make you feel

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To assist with this, I have compiled a few of my favorite resources to help with extending the life of your produce and prioritize what you need to eat first to reduce waste:
  • "How to Store Vegetables to Keep Them Fresh"
  • "How to Store Fresh Herbs so they Last Longer"
  • Eat By Date
  • FoodKeeper

I am also attaching 2 FREE printable downloads to help with your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping!

What is your biggest challenge when trying to keep your pantry and refrigerator under control? ​
weekly_meal_calendar.pdf
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

grocery_shopping_list.pdf
File Size: 44 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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