For the longest time, I’ve been worried about how we had the largest trash can on the block. We don’t have the biggest size you can get but our next door neighbors, a family of six had a smaller trash can than us and we only have four family members. So I set out to lower our trash can size by recycling more. Inside, we had to get some fancy trash cans,which are also known as brabantia bins. Ours are actually just like a brabantia touch bin that you don’t actually have to touch. (You just swipe your hand over them to open them, so no touch).

With a double style fancy trash can, two cans in one bin, we have one side, the right side (r for recycling, r for right) for recycling and one side for trash. So we’re trying really hard to keep our recycling and trash at 50/50 at least, but I would say we’re much closer to 70/30 recycling to trash. Which means we were able to go down in our trash can size saving us about 34.00 on our trash bill. Woo Hoo! We’re saving the environment just a little and putting some green (money) back into our pockets.

Living in The Pacific Northwest recycling is a way of life. We’re fined in some areas if recycling material is found in our trash cans. So I err on the side of it’s recyclable and needs to be recycled rather than it’s trash. Remember, when you’re doing your spring cleaning, think of other uses for what you have. Have a garage sale. Sell your electronics or find an electronics recycle day. Do the same thing for chemical products such as paint and cleaners. There are ways to get rid of most items we use every day in ways that will reduce the amount of trash you have every day. Check out our post on 31 ways to make your life more green.