Tiny Choices Q&A: Recycling in a Zen Space?
By tinychoices | August 17, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
PaperDollyGirl asks:
How do you balance wanting to recycle as much as possible with desiring to keep a clean, clutter free space?
Karina: I have inherited my family’s depression era “waste not, want not”attitude. I don’t want to throw ANYTHING away, because what if I need it sometime? I have bags of fabric scraps and pieces of ribbon that I’ve been given and bought and found. Shoot, I pick up nuts and bolts off of the street and carry them around with me in my pocket book until it gets so heavy I have to dump them all out into my tool box.
Jenn: I admit to being somewhat organizationally-challenged. I try, but it’s the stacks of papers that keep getting away from me. I find that living with a roommate helps me keep the common areas in check- if I don’t want to trip over someone else’s shoes in the living room, it’s a pretty good bet they don’t want to trip over mine either. I’m also not a big collector of tchotchkes, and most of my geegaws are of the hanging variety, both of which are really helpful tips for having an uncluttered home.
Karina: On the other hand, even though I want to keep everything because what if I need it to make something? if I can’t find it, I can’t use it. So organization is key. Not yet achieved, but key. Though something I really struggle with is all the waste fabric I have from sewing - it should be recyclable, I think! and I know I have way too much yarn (that I’ll never use) but I have not yet gotten around to donating it to worthy causes.
Jenn: Over the years, I’ve started to donate craft supplies which I’m fairly certain I’ll never use again. Though if you’re a crafter you know there’s no such thing as never. I’m certain the day will come when I’ll regret giving away that one-pound bag of glitter…
Karina: In terms of waste recycling, I don’t have a great or polished system. I have two small cans in my kitchen: one for garbage and one for mixed recyclables. I have a brown paper bag for paper recycling (that usually lives on the floor next to my fridge) and a cardboard box for pasteboard and cardboard recycling (that lives on top of my low shelf of cookbooks). If I have company coming over I make sure to bring these things down to the basement recycling area so they’re out of sight.
Jenn: My recycling system seems to work pretty well, though it’s anything but elegant. In the kitchen I have a small garbage can for trash. Then I have two small blue plastic recycling bins from Ikea, which cost about a dollar each- one for paper and one for plastic/glass/metals. I think they’re meant to go in an under-the-sink rack similar to this. In my bedroom I have a trashcan and a bag for paper recycling. I do think the key to having a successful recycling system is having a designated space for each type of recyclable. Everything has its own bin, so you know where to put it without a second thought. As with general clutter, once you start having to think about it the system has failed and you’re back to stressing about the situation.
Karina: My dream recycling system would be to get the plastic bags out from under my sink, and to put the paper and cardboard recycling in there. I’m ok with the mixed recyclables can and the garbage out in the open - I use have the space, and I constantly use them.
Jenn: My dream recycling system would look something like this, be made from bioplastic, and be hidden behind a cabinet. It would also come with a robot to take it outside for me on the proper mornings.
Additional Reading:
- Ask Metafilter: Can I recycle and have an uncluttered kitchen?
- About.com: Setting up recycling bins in a small space
What are your thoughts on the matter? How do you keep a Zen home while recycling?
Click here for the Q&A archives!
Topics: Home, Q&A, Waste | Comments Off
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