You and your family understand the importance of recycling. You carefully sort your paper, plastics, and
aluminuma silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
. Whenever possible, you reuse plastic bags and
repurpose
old items around the home so they serve a new function. And you buy products made from recycled materials.
However
, you feel that your efforts are outweighed by your
neighbors’a person who lives (or is located) near another
negligence. Though you try hard to recycle on your own, many in your
community
don’t
seem to care about protecting the environment. And many more
don’t
even bother to throw their trash in the dumpster, let alone take their recyclable items to the nearest
centeran area that is approximately central within some larger region
.
So what can you do to encourage your
community
to take action?
1. Add Recycling Bins to Public Areas
Many people prefer to choose the path of least resistance. If something seems inconvenient, they may feel they
don’t
have the time or energy to follow through.
To make recycling an easy option, purchase a few recycling bins and place them strategically
next
to trash cans in parks, parking lots, piers, and plazas. When people throw away their trash, they only need a few seconds to decide whether they should recycle.
Better still, check out your local
curbsidethe side of a sidewalk that is bordered by a curb
collection program. You may be able to acquire additional recycling bins for your
neighborsa person who lives (or is located) near another
at no cost to you, and the collection program can pick up the
waste
on a regular basis.
If your area lacks a basic recycling program, talk to your nearest disposal and
waste
management company. They may help you set up a regular
waste
and recycling collection service for your
neighborhooda surrounding or nearby region
or
community
.
2. Write a Column in Your Local Newspaper or Newsletter
Your local newsletter or newspaper does more than list the latest classifieds or coupons
your grocery store. Despite the rise of digital news sites, many people still read the local papers for headlines, gossip, and sports scores.
When you want to catch your neighbors’ attention, submit an article to your local newspaper and describe the benefits of recycling. If you have a particular knack for writing, you can start your own daily, weekly, or monthly column that gives readers tips and tricks for recycling their
waste
properly.
Don’t
have a local newspaper? Make your own! You can set up a
community
blog and let
neighborsa person who lives (or is located) near another
and city official contribute to the posts. Share your website through social media to get the word out.
3. Teach Recycling to Students and Their Parents
Children can learn to recycle at an early age. And once they’ve established the habit, they may recycle for the rest of their lives.
Additionally
, kids have a natural enthusiasm that can spread to their parents, friends, and relatives.
If you want to spark a passion for recycling, offer to teach about recycling
your nearby elementary and high schools. You can keep your lessons short and sweet in individual classrooms, or you can put on much larger events with guest speakers in the auditorium. Simply reach out to your schools’ teachers and principals for approval, advice, and planning tips.
4. Form a Recycling Club
Though you may feel alone in your efforts to recycle, keep in mind that several other families may feel the same way. Why not bring those who feel passionate about recycling together through a
community
club?
Your recycling club can meet together every week to participate in
repurposing
crafts, clothing drives, and cleaning projects. You could set recycling goals for your members, and when everyone achieves their goals, you can all reward yourselves with movie tickets, concerts, or trips to amusement parks.
Use Your Creativity
Although
the above ideas can get you started, you
don’t
have to limit yourself to these options. With a little creativity, you can find more ways to recycle and encourage your
neighborsa person who lives (or is located) near another
to do the same.