This is a Second Step activity to further reduce trash around the house. If you are just getting started, take a minute to read Paper, Plastic and Glass and Junk Mail.
Composting
Want to really reduce your messy trash to almost nothing, take the time to learn a little about household composting and get an indoor and an outdoor composting bin. Not only will you again reduce the amount of messy trash that needs to be taken out, your garden will love you and really reward you for your efforts. Here are two resources to get you started – howtocompost.org and Introduction To Composting.
Garbage Disposal
You may want to check into getting a garbage disposal installed into your sink for items that are not well composted. I do not recommend a disposal if you have a septic tank. The types of foods that you would dispose of may cause problems that would lead to a big, ugly, stinky mess later. If you are on city lines, check with your water board prior to installing one to check on any guidelines or limitations that they require. This article may be of great help.
Scrap Metal
Do you use a lot of canned goods? We can not put tin cans into our recycle bin. Ask your kids teachers or any kindergarten/preschool teacher if they would like the cans for projects. Look for artists that use scrap metal. Become a scrap metal artist.
Lend a Hand Up
If no one wants them for crafts, see if you know anyone that collects metal to salvage or is really having a hard time making ends meet. With the prices given for scrap metal these days, those little cans add up. Instead of recycling any aluminum cans, add them to the scrap pile. Rinse, remove any labels, crush them, and toss them in a big box. When the box is full, pass them along or cash them in. You may only get a few dollars per box, but a few dollars here and there can make a big difference for someone in need.
We seem to always live on a busy street and I am a night owl. One night a few years ago, I walked out very late to add something to the recycle bin on trash night and embarrassed a young woman pulling cans out of our bin and garbage. She started crying the minute she realized that I saw her. She explained without me asking that she and her husband made enough money to cover most of their bills, but they were often short for groceries. She had made arrangements with her mother to keep her kids on nights when her husband worked the graveyard shift and collected any cans or other metal left out on the curbs. Every since that night, I always put any scrap metal in a box at the curb on trash night. I do not know if she ever came back, but in the morning before the trash or recycle truck come by, I am always able to go get my empty box.
Keep this idea in mind for the next time you need a pretty easy fundraiser for a group. When you have many people collecting scrap metal and cans, you can cash in truckloads at a time while leaving room in the landfill.
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