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In search of at home recycling tips? Whether you are struggling to declutter on your own or you are having a hard time getting your family onboard with your home recycling plan, these tips for recycling at home should help you get on track.

• First of all, reduce the influx of new items into your home in the first place. Reducing waste begins with reducing wasteful purchasing and practices. Only buy what you need.

• If an item is broken and can be repaired, whether by you or someone else, do not recycle it. It still has value and functionality.

• Recycling should be a last resort. Before you consider recycling any item, make sure there is absolutely no use for it. Options to consider first include gifting (or re-gifting), donating, upcycling, etc. Set up a donation bin in your house to make this as easy as possible.

• Know what your local pickup service will and will not take. If there is a drop-off center nearby, learn their rules as well.

• Purchase a set of plastic recycling bins for home. These do not have to be bins designed specifically for recycling. Any large plastic bins will do just fine. Put them somewhere convenient, like in the mudroom. You want it to be as effortless as possible for people in your family to throw items in the bins. Don’t have a lot of floor space? Install some shelving and store your recycling bins vertically along one of your walls.

• Label each of your plastic recycling containers for different types of waste, i.e. plastics, papers, glass, etc. You can make your own labels or you can print some out from the internet.

• Be aware that this still will probably not be enough to get family members to recycle. Even if you are an expert on what can be recycled and what cannot, most people easily get confused about which type of plastic or glass they can recycle and which needs to go in the trash. So you may want to add some instructions and pointers below the labels.

• Make the trash can less accessible. Never underestimate the easy allure of the trash can. Since technically anything can go in the trash can, it is easy for people to get lazy and use it, even if it is right next to the recycling bins. Put the recycling bins somewhere easy to reach, but consider stowing the trash can under your sink inside a cabinet or something. Even a small deterrent like a cabinet door may be enough to push family members toward the recycling bins.

• Beautify your bins. If you do not like the appearance of your bins, there is a lot you can do to customize them using fabric, paper, duct tape, and other supplies.

Now you have some tips to help you recycle effectively at home and to boost compliance from members of your family. Once you have a system working, it will get easier!