Getting Creative with Recycling Plastic

Since having children, my family has become very active in recycling and teaching ourselves how we can better protect our planet. With these steps to becoming more eco-friendly we’ve found ways to make recycling plastic fun!

My kids know to think before they throw anything away and they check our fridge for what they can and cannot recycle. What they check is this awesome key to what we can put in our blue bins and where we put everything else.

And we’ve made it a bit fun for the kids by having sorted bins on the side of our blue bins for everything else.

But sadly, unlike our weekly garbage pick up, our recycle pick up is every two weeks. So we also keep our schedule for when recycling day is. We really wish they’d reverse this schedule… recycling every week with garbage pick up every 2 weeks. Maybe even once a month! How’s that for saved resources?

Recycling saves resources and reduces environmental impact.

Because Arrowhead® 100% Mountain Spring Water is sourced from carefully selected mountain springs, the company is committed to preserving these natural resources.

That’s why Arrowhead is launching their Reborn™ 500mL bottle (made with 50% recycled plastic) and a campaign to encourage recycling. It’s important to remember the more plastic you recycle, the more recycled material Arrowhead can use.

Recycling is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways we can all help the environment. Sadly, only about 30% of PET plastic bottles get recycled. For recycling to work, we all have to do our part.

Unfortunately, not all plastic bottles are made with recycled plastic. It’s Arrowheads goal to continue increasing the use of recycled materials in their bottles, but they need everyone’s help. Currently, there isn’t enough recycled plastic available for Arrowhead to make 100% rPET bottles.

Make recycling a part of your family’s routine. It’s not that hard!

5 Easy Ways to Increase Recycling Plastic

1. Find out How Your City Recycles and What They Accept

First – contact your local waste department and see if they have a recycling program. Here in San Diego blue recycling bins are free to residents. We have two of these big boys and fill them to the brim every two weeks!

If you don’t have a recycling program in your neighborhood don’t give up! You can also cash in on your recycling by taking your recycled plastic, glass, aluminum and paper to a recycling center. Most centers pay by weight.

2. Have an Easily Accessible Recycle Bin in the Home

Make it a point to have a recycling bin in your house next to the trash.

This can be as simple as a paper bag left over from your grocery shopping or can be the same size as your current trash bin. Having an easily accessible bin to use makes recycling a lot easier!

Better yet, make sure your home and office are outfitted with recycling bins for paper, plastic and metal. Keep them out in the open and label them appropriately. By having seperate bins you will save yourself time sorting later on if you wish to cash in on your recycled goods.

Or simply take your single recycling can and dump it into your larger bin for pick up by your city (if that is offered).

3. Get the Kids Involved

Now to make it fun for the kids – for every 10 bottles they recycle, give them a dollar. Or better yet, save all of your bottles and cans in a separate bin and let them take them to the recycling center to cash in! Money is always a great motivator to get things done.

4.  Create Reminders

Now that you have these great systems in place, don’t forget to actually take out your recycling! Depending on if you have a city-run system or are taking it to the recycling centers yourself, make yourself a little note or a reminder in your calendar to take care of your recycling.

U.S. plastic beverage bottle recycling rates are only at about 30%. That means that a lot of us are not taking the time to set up a recycling plan in our home. By taking a few minutes to consciously change the way we live and choose to recycle we can provide a better world for ourselves and our children.

5. Talk About Recycling

Unfortunately, not all plastic bottles are made with recycled plastic. It’s Arrowheads goal to continue increasing the use of recycled materials in their bottles, but they need everyone’s help. Currently, there isn’t enough recycled plastic available for Arrowhead to make 100% rPET bottles.

Recycling is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways we can all help the environment. Sadly, only about 30% of PET plastic bottles get recycled. For recycling to work, we all have to do our part. By speaking to our friends, family and neighbors about recycling we can spread the word about how recycling can help reduce our global footprint.

Make recycling a part of your family’s routine.

How do you involve your kids in recycling plastic?

To learn more about Arrowhead’s ReBorn project and see how you can make a difference visit Arrowhead on Facebook.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Arrowhead Waters. All opinions are my own.