Recycling While Away from Home

Posted June 11th, 2009 by Rethink Recycling

Are you planning to travel over the Fourth of July? Having family over for a barbeque? Taking a summer vacation soon? Minnesotans are increasingly recycling at home, but do you keep it going while away from home?

As many of us take road trips, attend fireworks displays and music festivals, we'll need to remember to find ways to recycle there too. Many community events won't offer recycling containers or services. Here are some things you can do to help:

Look around for recycling bins, and ask the person or company in charge if you don't see any. If they didn't have them for that event, your request may put it top of mind for the next event.
Write a letter. If there is not a specific person to talk to at the event, write a letter to the organization, again, to put it on their list for the next event.
Bring a bag for your own recycling. If you're spending the day somewhere that you know won't provide recycling opportunities, pack a bag for those couple of aluminum cans you and your party will empty while there.
If you're hosting, be sure to put out paper bags near the trash bin and label them clearly. Your guests will surely follow your lead and do the sorting for you.
Choose or encourage the use of reusable or recyclable materials (beverage cups, plates, utensils, etc.).

Remembering to recycle while away from home is important. Think about what you can do to help while enjoying your summer celebrations, vacations, and travels. For more tips on recycling and waste options, visit RethinkRecycling.com, your go-to guide for waste and recycling information in the Twin Cities. And enjoy the beautiful Minnesota summer!

Far from home

Posted on June 11, 2009 - 1:02pm by Anonymous

Any suggestions on ways to keep your car clean when you have to haul the recycling long distances?

Keeping it Clean

Posted on June 12, 2009 - 11:06am by Rethink Recycling

The best way to keep things clean, contained, and orderly is to plan ahead. If you're not sure if a place will have recycling options, or you're taking a long trip where you might empty some soda cans or bottles on the way, pack a small, reusable bin (like a little storage bin, not a whole recycling bin!), or at least a handful of plastic bags. In fact, we should all keep such a thing in our cars all the time! Hopefully you could find a storage bin that has a lid, or you could of course just tie the bags closed to keep it all contained.

On a long trip, keep an eye out for recycling bins on the way. Maybe a gas station has a place you can deposit your recycling rather than hauling it all the way home.

Another key would be rinsing the recyclables before your trip home--not always possible, but if you have the opportunity to that would certainly cut down on some potential stickiness and stinkiness!

Any other great ideas on keepin' it clean?

Far from home

Posted on June 15, 2009 - 8:57am by Anonymous

Many of the wayside rest areas now have recycling bins. Watch for them and some gas stations also have them.

recycling in your car

Posted on June 15, 2009 - 1:46pm by Anonymous

My roommate used to have a similar problem to the first commenter. She would often have drinking containers in her car, and while she didn't want to throw them in the trash, lack of easy recycling meant throwing them in the back seat of her car--to the point that it looked like a bottle-recycling facility! I ended up buying her a stackable bin (I got it from here: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/851315/Office-Depot-Brand-Stackabl... but any stackable bin will work). Low center of gravity means it doesn't tumble around in the trunk, the lid keeps everything contained, and it's easy to bring into the garage when it fills up. I definitely recommend it if you want to recycle while on-the-go.

National Parks

Posted on June 15, 2009 - 3:51pm by Anonymous

National Parks (even in the middle of nowhere) have recycling containers.

recycling on the road

Posted on June 17, 2009 - 8:30am by Anonymous

I have an old plastic bin (rubbermaid/tupperwear etc.) which I broke the lid to - it works great for haulin home the recyclables from family events - especially since I can stack other stuff on top of it. when I transfer stuff to my single sort bin, I hose it out and leave it in the garage. Reuse, reuse, reuse!

recycling on the road

Posted on June 23, 2009 - 8:56am by Anonymous

We camp and travel ALOT. We have found that most wayside rests and some state parks recycle. We usually save ours until then, ask at the park we're at. Also try to buy frozen vegs only a bag. Drink juice, soda out of plastic bottles that can be recycled instead of a dozen pop cans. We also carry a bin with a plastic bag in it, just for recycling that makes it easy to recycle when you can. Most wayside rests no matter where, have a bin for pop cans. Happy recycling on the road !

When flying

Posted on September 11, 2009 - 8:26am by Anonymous

If I can't find a recycling option while on a trip, I've gone as far as carrying the empty containers back with me on the plane to recycle at home. My mom think I'm crazy, but loves me anyway! I heard some airlines are now recycling the empty cans from the in-flight beverage cart. I wish more airlines would do this.