Weekly Green Audit Challenge: Trash!
In the previous post I mentioned the new Weekly Green Audit Challenge series. Each Sunday, I’ll post a new room or space we can look at during the week. Mon-Fri, I’ll post a new daily tip about how to meet your goals when it comes to this specific audit. Make sense? Hopefully. If not it will.
If you aren’t sure what a green audit means you’ll want to read Green Audit 101.
This week’s green audit focus will be on your…. Trash. Woo hoo, trash. Did you know you can run a green audit on your trash? Well, you can. It’s not pretty, but it sure is useful. Also, this is an audit the kids might enjoy.
How to run a basic trash audit:
A trash audit is pretty simple. This week you’re going to need to take a look at your trash. There are two ways to go about this.
- Write a big old note to yourself (and the family). The note should say, “STOP! Before you throw that ________ out, jot down what it is.” Of course the second part of this option is to have a notepad (recycled if possible) next to the trash can. Before you throw something away write down what it is.
- You second option is to skip the above option all together, wait for the end of the week, get a pair of gloves, and sort through the trash.
I don’t know about you, but I like option one better.
The point of this audit is to see what you and your family is tossing each week and to see if any of it can be recycled. Believe me, something, you’re tossing can be recycled. There’s even stuff I can work on this week. To be really useful, you should do this for all the garbage cans in your home. However, being the understanding blogger that I am, and also being a believer of small steps, let’s just focus on our kitchen garbage can this week.
Look for a new tip, daily, Mon-Fri that relates to this trash audit. Hopefully, we can get more of your trash recycled, and less of it in that outside bin.
Tags: believer, challenge_series, garbage_cans, gloves, green_audit, notepad, option_one, small_steps, s_green, trashRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Green Audit, Recycle
2 opinions for Weekly Green Audit Challenge: Trash!
Julie
Jan 29, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I wish I could get everyone in my house to follow this. But my inlaws think I am nuts for saving everything and trying to recycle it all.
I am going to have hubby build recycle bins this spring, that way I can have a smaller space to put my ’stuff’. My plans for him to follow are easy, anyone can do it.
Build a frame the general size of a fridge. Height depends on your reach and ceiling. Measure carefully, then add tracks for large ‘drawers’. This can be as simple as a small strip of wood wide enough for a wheel to roll on.
Make open top boxes that are one half to one inch smaller then the opening. This allows room for small wheels to go on the bottom of the drawer. You can scavenge wheels from an old toy, dishwasher, or something else.
Place a handle on each box, then slide into your stacked recycle bin.
When you make this, you should use wood that is not very heavy for the boxes or slip cardboard boxes inside of the drawers to ease removal.
I also have plans for a container like this for returnable plastic bottles. Same size, but with an easy removal system for the bottles! I’ll let you know when it is all worked out!
Jennifer
Jan 31, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Holy smokes Julie, good comment. I like the upright version of the recycling center for your kitchen. I think you could really go all out and even make it pretty - if you had the time and means. In Humboldt we had a sun porch so our recycling center was easy access. Now I don’t have a center, I have to transfer everything from kitchen - to garage - to bins outside. It’s a hassle. Your idea is good.
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