Learning how to recycle at home is an important way to impact our planet and help keep it green!  Recently at Camden Stoneleigh in Austin, Texas, we had a very special recycling event with Ryan Hickman. This amazing 9-year-old is changing the world with his recycling company, and has recycled over 81 thousand pounds of recycling. The money collected was used to donate $8,067 to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center!  With the increased importance of recycling, I have compiled a list of the best five ways to recycle at home:

• Reuse your morning coffee cup We all know there is no better way to start your day than with a cup of joe. Use a reusable coffee cup or bring your own washable mug to work to greatly reduce your carbon footprint! Many companies, such as Starbucks, incentivize you to utilize their reusable cups to cut down on paper and plastic usage.

• Buy reusable grocery bags Many cities no longer provide grocery bags and require you to bring your own or purchase plastic or paper bags from them. When I first moved to Austin this was an adjustment for me but now I have adjusted and I love knowing I am not throwing away countless grocery bags each month! Keep them readily available in your car so you are always prepared.

• Make recycling bins readily available Living at Camden means you are provided with gorgeous amenities and special perks such as Valet Waste front door trash pick-up service 5 nights a week.  Since a trash can is provided upon move-in, I picked up an additional trash bin to separate my recyclables from my waste.  Having this designated bin makes recycling easy and leaves no room for excuses!

• Donate It’s never too late to spring clean your closet and donate old clothes, sheets, or towels. You can drop off your unwanted items at Goodwill or any other charity organization. Another great idea is to contact your local animal shelter and see if they could use any of your items as bedding or cleaning materials.  We even have tips on how to be green when cleaning out your home! 

• Recycle old technology We all want the latest and greatest, but that doesn’t mean your older technology no longer serves a purpose. Apple and many other locations will recycle your old laptops, cell phones, and computers responsibly.  Depending on the age of your technology, they may even give you credit towards the purchase of a newer model!

Now that you have some fresh ideas on how to impact our planet I challenge you to utilize at least one of these techniques soon! If you are looking for more ways to be green, here are some ideas on what to do with unused clothing and shoes!