2 Ways to Simplify Home Recycling! - ALCOVA Mortgage

2 Ways to Simplify Home Recycling!

View of Wilmington North Carolina from across the river

Home recycling requires a committed amount of time, yet offers many positive benefits to the homeowner as well as the environment. According to the EPA in 2016, about 34.6% of what Americans throw away is recycled, which amounts to a reduction of 186 million tons of carbon-dioxide-equivalent emissions annually. Think about the impact it would make if that percentage was higher?

Everybody is doing more to recycle now, and with good reason. Here are a few more recycling facts:

  • Recycling 20 aluminum cans saves enough energy to power an air conditioner for 3.5 hours.
  • Recycling 30 glass bottles saves enough energy to power a hairdryer for 2 hours.
  • Recycling 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a 60W CFL lightbulb for 97.8 hours.
  • Recycling 10 plastic bags saves enough energy to power a laptop computer for 3.4 hours.

So what can we do to make recycling easier for us at home? Here are some basic steps that will assist you in starting a recycling program at home or refining your current strategy.

Location, Location!

If you do not have community recycling in your area, then locate your nearest recycling station to find out what kinds of items and materials are accepted. Once you learn which materials your local recycling center accepts, set up a corresponding storage bin system and decide on the best location for it in your home. The kitchen tends to make the most sense for a recycling station, as many of the things you’ll be tossing in (cans, food packaging, and glass bottles) will originate there. If you have a kitchen pantry, try reorganizing so that you can fit bins on the floor. Or, if you have the space, you can keep your recycling station out in the open. Find strong bins or reusable bags to make up your recycling station, and you are good to go!

Stick to a Schedule!

Finally, set a schedule for this chore. It’s easy when curbside pickup is available, but takes more time out of your day if it requires a visit to a local recycling station. If you commit to taking out your recycling regularly, it won’t get too full or cumbersome. If not everything is accepted where you live, set another schedule for taking the other recyclables to a city-run recycling center.

Recycling can definitely be a hassle, but it can become simpler by creating the right habits.

3 Tips To Tackle Your Spring Cleaning

It’s time for spring cleaning, a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. Here are three handy tips to get started!

4 Maintenance Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Spring

A change of seasons always necessitates a few home maintenance chores, and spring marks a great time to tackle some tasks outside in the fresh air. From roof repair to foundation drainage, these chores will get your home in shape from top to bottom!

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Equal Housing Lender LogoALCOVA Mortgage LLC | NMLS#40508 | (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
Licensed in AL, AR, CO, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC,
TN, TX, VA, WA, WV | 308 Market St SE, Roanoke, VA 24011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equal Housing Lender LogoALCOVA Mortgage LLC | NMLS#40508 | (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
Licensed in AL, AR, CO, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV |
308 Market St SE, Roanoke, VA 24011