Ways to Recycle at Home

(Family Features) Though recycling may seem like a chore, it is an important key to managing the waste in your family’s home.

Teach your little ones the benefits of green living with these helpful household tips:

Create a kid-friendly chart Make this green activity fun with an easy-to-follow chart that shows what items can be recycled, how to handle the materials and how to sort them into the proper bin. Make sure to place the guide near your recycling area so it can be referenced whenever they need it.

Recycle in style Your kids will love decorating the family’s recycling bins. So, get out the glitter, glue and paint – and let the creativity flow. Be sure each bin has its own decorative sign to designate plastic, paper, glass and other materials. Parents can even cut out a fun shape from the material and glue it to the bin to illustrate what should go inside.

Make a game of it When shopping with your family, challenge them to choose items with the least amount of packaging, or items made with 100 percent recyclable materials. This is a great teaching opportunity for kids to learn about their own personal waste. When at home, show your children how to properly dispose of the packaging materials – hopefully, it can go somewhere other than a waste basket.

Assign recycling tasks Many neighborhoods do not provide curbside pickup for all recyclable materials. To ensure these items are collected and distributed on a consistent basis, assign a bin to each member of the household. This person will keep an eye on the bin and will be responsible for notifying a parent to take the bin to its proper collection site.

With a few eco-friendly activities, you can turn your home into a mini recycling hub. You’ll also teach your kids how a few simple acts can make a huge impact on the environment.