Recycling in every room of your home can be challenging. Disrupt your recycling routine and change the way you recycle with Hennepin County’s Recycle Everywhere campaign.
Use these tips to get started:
- Make recycling easy by placing a recycling bin, bag or box next to every garbage can in your home. Then label your bins so that everyone knows how to sort their recycling and trash. Order a free recycling bag and get labels at www.hennepin.us/recycleeverywhere.
- Collect recycling from every room in your house. There are many other rooms besides the kitchen where you can recycle. Did you know there are more than 20 items in the bathroom alone that are recyclable?
Bathroom
- Shampoo, soap, lotion, mouthwash and contact lens cleaner bottles. Keep caps on plastic bottles, but remove and toss pumps and spray nozzles.
- Boxes from toothpaste, medication and other toiletries
- Empty medicine bottles
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Plastic containers from baby wipes and cleaning wipes
Laundry room
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener bottles. Keep caps on plastic bottles.
- Stain remover and other cleaner bottles. Remove and toss spray pumps.
- Plastic cat litter jugs
- Dryer sheet and laundry detergent boxes
Office
- Paper, including shredded paper. Place in a closed paper bag.
- Catalogs, magazines and newspaper
- Office supply boxes
- Paper file folders
- Soft cover books
- Tissue boxes
- Make it fun by involving the entire family in recycling. Have kids make a “please recycle” sign that shows what items can go in the recycling bin or decorate recycling bins or bags to encourage everyone to recycle. Place a basketball rim above the recycling bin so your family can slam dunk their recyclables. Make it a challenge: Try to generate only one bag of trash a week, and once you’ve conquered that, use a smaller trash can.
The county offers residents, business and organizations the following resources to help us meet our recycling goals:
- Recycling at businesses and organizations: Grants, signage, best practices guide, staff assistance and a recognition program are available to help businesses and organizations troubleshoot and set up recycling programs.
- Recycling at apartment buildings: Free education materials, signage and on-site assistance are available to property owners and managers.
- Recycling at schools: Grants, signage, classroom presentations and staff assistance are available to help schools improve recycling and educate students and staff.
- Recycling at events: Recycling containers for events, event recycling and waste reduction guide and green event resources are all available for free.
- Promote recycling: Factsheets, brochures and handouts, including a recycling guide and ideas for reducing waste, are available to partners for free. We also have resources to engage your audience in learning more about recycling, including learning trunks, activity ideas, and field trip ideas and transportation funding.
Establish new recycling habits with tips, tricks and hacks that make it convenient to recycle in every room. Start recycling everywhere today! Learn more and get resources at www.hennepin.us/recycleeverywhere.
This information was provided by Hennepin County Environment and Energy Environmental Education and Outreach.
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