Make Your Own Recycling Center

Recycling is a lot like exercise. They both make good sense and make you feel better, but it's not always easy to make them part of your regular routine. When it comes to recycling plastic bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans, newspaper, glass bottles and cardboard, the problem of storage is sure to surface. Accumulating items for recycling collection centers requires home storage for varying periods of time and some thoughtful handling of items. Below are some suggestions for do-it-yourself methods of storing recyclables.

Storage Space Considerations

Family habits largely determine space needs, and family habits change over time. Storage needs are also affected by the recycling market in your neighborhood: what items can be recycled? when can items be dropped off? how frequent are curbside pick-ups? Check with recyclers in your area to find out what recyclables are currently being accepted and how these materials should be prepared. For example, must paper labels be removed from cans and bottle? Can glass be crushed? If newspaper is accepted, must it be delivered in bagged, boxed, bound in a string or loose? These answers will affect the amount of storage space your need for recyclables, how the space is divided into compartments for separate materials, and how the individual items are handled before being placed into the storage.

Five Storage Options

1. Four-Shelf Recycling Center
Four Shelf Recycling Center Materials List

Notes

  1. Smooth all edges.
  2. Paint or stain to suit.
  3. Plastic laminate can be glued to top for smooth surface.

2. Four-Tray Under-Sink Recycling Center

Four Tray Recycling Center

Materials List

3. Three-Bag, Wood Frame Recycling Center
Three-Bag, Pipe Frame Recycling Center
Materials List

Notes

  1. Cut furring strips to the following lengths:
    4 pcs. 33" long
    8 pcs. 24" long
    4 pcs. 12" long
    2 pcs. 10 1/2" long
  2. Build top and bottom frames, then add legs.
  3. Holes may have to be pre-drilled to avoid splitting wood.
  4. Uses 13-gallon garbage bags.

4. Three-Bag, Pipe Frame Recycling Center
Three-Bag, Pipe Frame Recycling Center
Materials List

Notes
  1. Cut pipe to the following lengths:
    2 pcs. 31 3/4" long
    4 pcs. 20 3/4" long
    12 pcs 9 1/2" long
    8 pcs. 2" long
  2. Clean all cut edges with sandpaper.
  3. uses 13-gallon garbage bags.

5. Newspaper Baler
Newspaper Baler
Notes

  1. All wood used is 3-inch furring strips. 15 linear feet required.
  2. Scrap lumber can be used.
  3. All joints nailed - use small, coated nails with heads.
  4. Before piling papers in the baler, pull a length of twine from the top and side balls of twine to form a cross under the stack. The twine will be tied later to secure the bundle.
  5. A stack of papers 10 inches high will make a bale weighing about 25 pounds.


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