Where to Recycle Styrofoam in Houston & The Surrounding Areas

Styrofoam is such a tricky thing to recycle because it can't be recycled at most curbside recycling pickups by your local recycling companies. Here in Houston and surrounding areas there are various places where you can recycle styrofoam. 

Westpark Consumer Recycling Center

Precinct 3 Recycling Center

If you are looking to recycle packing peanuts, many local postal stores will take them or you can search Earth911.com for places in your area. 

You can go to Foam Facts and put in your zip code

Where do you recycle styrofoam?

Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels

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Where to Recycle Electronics in Houston

One of the top questions that I get asked when we are organizing for clients and doing huge decluttering sessions is where to recycle or take electronics. I rounded up a few places where you can take electronics here in Houston. 

Where do you like to recycle electronics locally or nationally?

Compucycle: they offer a variety of services and have been around for over 20 years. 

earth911.com: if you put in your zip code it will tell you what you can recycle where. 

Apple: you can recycle various Apple products and they will trade in some items and give you a credit towards a new Apple product.

Staples: you can recycle various things at your local Staples store.

Best Buy: you can recycle various things at your local Best Buy store. They will also you give you money back or discounts to purchase items, depending on what you donate.

City of Houston: there is list of various places you can recycle electronics.

Houston Electronic Recycle: they will come pick up your electronics as well.

Goodwill: Goodwill has a partnership with Dell and you can recycle all types of electronics at any Goodwill location in Houston. 

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15 Eco Things You can Do This Month & Always to Celebrate Earth Day

There are so many different things you can do on a regular basis to be eco and green. Since it is Earthy Month I thought I would highlight 15 easy things you can do to help your planet day-to-day.

1. Start a recycling program.
2. Make small eco changes like using reusable shopping bags, produce bags, sandwich bags, etc.
3. Donate or giveaway items you no longer need or want. 
4. Volunteer your time. 
5. Incorporate or use green beauty products. 
6. Use glass containers instead of plastic. 
7. Use eco cleaning products or make your own cleaning products.
8. Buy produce from your local farmers market.
9. Eat seasonally.
10. Compost.
11. Plant an herb garden.
12. Ride your bike where you can.
13. Organize a clean up day in your neighborhood. 
14. Buy from resale shops.
15. Use air purifying house plants.

Photo by Photo Boards on Unsplash

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5 Eco Things You Can Do During the COVID-19 Quarantine Time

If you are like most others right now, you are self quarantining or your city has a "shelter in place". Now is great time to start to make some eco changes.

Switch to cloth cleaning rags. Since there is limited paper goods at most stores right now, instead of using paper towels to clean, use cloth rags, old clothing, etc.

Start recycling. If you have never been much of a recycler now is a great time to start recycling and teaching kids to recycling.

Compost. A lot of people are at home and cooking much more than they did before, so now is the perfect time to start composting.

Do an energy audit. Call your electric company and do an energy audit to see where you are using the most energy in your house and how you can save on energy costs. Don't forget to turn off lights and electronics when you are not using them.

Ditch plastic disposable water bottles when you can. If you are at home start using reusable water bottles or actual glasses instead of grabbing for disposable water bottles if you have a good water source. It reduces on waste a TON.

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Photo by The Honest Company on Unsplash

Eco Kid's Activity

I saw this kids recycle activity book when I was at at the dollar store and thought it was such a fun, great way to teach kids about recycling while doing a learning activity. Here is the exact one online as well. What are some eco activities you do with kids?

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Eco Program: Crayola ColorCycle

With back to school here, I wanted to share an eco program from Crayola. It is the Crayola ColorCycle program where schools and teachers collect used markers, put them in a box and Crayola pays for the shipping. Love that you can recycle your old markers and help the planet out. Here is more about Crayola's green initiatives.

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Eco Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Recycling Committee

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo season is about to start back up. Anyone excited? I started on the recycling committee last year and had a blast meeting new friends and working hard. You can read about a post I wrote about last year here. Below are some things that I found out last year I needed to have.

• DW40. Last year we randomly needed this for the trailers, so I will be bringing it back with me again this year. 
• Wet wipes. When recycling you are bound to get dirty at some point in your shift, so these are necessary. 
• Sunscreen. We are riding around the HLSR grounds throughout the day and it is always a good idea to wear sunscreen.
• Gloves. Like I said above you handle all kinds of dirty recycling, so gloves are a good idea.
• Snacks & Water. Sometimes we are out for long periods of time, so snacks and water are preferred for me.
• Pocket knife. To break down boxes.
• Small backpack. This is to put everything in. 
• Rodeo badge. Just in case you need it. Since I have the morning shift, I have it just in case I want to go to a show after or meet up with friends in certain areas of the rodeo.

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Made in the USA: Recycle Bin

I buy recycling items for personal assistant and concierge clients pretty regularly. Even though Houston is a large city, you would be surprised that recycling isn't offered in many parts of the city. This bin in particular was bought for a client whose building does recycle (YAY!!), but they needed a bin inside of their apartment to easily transfer their recyclables. It's not too big, not too small and it is made in the USA! How do you handle your recycling items?

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Where to Recycle Batteries and Lightbulbs in Houston

Batteries and lightbulbs are two common things that often need recycling. You never know just how many batteries and lightbulbs you actually go through. I feel like I won't have any that need to be replaced for a while and then all of sudden it seems like a lot of things need batteries and/or lightbulbs replaced.

I have had the hardest time in Houston finding who will recycle what and where.

Many recycle centers have told me household alkaline batteries like AAA, AA, C, D, etc. can just be thrown in the trash because they are considered safe to throw away. I just feel so bad doing this because I have recycled them forever.

Here are several recycling centers in the area that take different things.

• Batteries and Bulbs: http://www.batteriesplus.com/t-batteries-plus-recycles.aspx and http://www.batteriesplus.com/t-light-bulb-recycling.aspx (this is my go to place when recycling alkaline batteries and lightbulbs)
• This is a great resource of various recycle places in the Houston area: http://www.ehow.com/how_7598937_recycle-batteries-houston-texas.html
• Home Depot: http://www.ecooptions.homedepot.com (bulbs and batteries)
• Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/cd_Recycling_368967519_ (bulbs and batteries)
• Waste Management Battery Recycle Kit: http://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/Batteries.cfm (this is something you can purchase and send it in when it fills up)
• Ikea: www.ikea.com (CFL bulbs)
• Montgomery County Recycle Center: http://www.precinct3.org/recycling/

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Magazines: What to do with them

I am very guilty of subscribing to way too many magazines, but the thing is I use them for research for clients and read every one. I know it is not the most eco thing, but like I have stated on here many times before, I am a visual person and like to see things and be able to flip through magazines like I like to do with books too. 

Here are things you can do with old magazines:

• Donate them to hospitals, shelters or charities.
• Roll up and put them in boots. I have done this for years and it helps them stand up and keep their shape.
• Shred up and use instead of fake Easter grass in Easter baskets.
• Reuse to make vision boards. 
• Reuse for school projects and crafts.
• Make envelopes.
• Make inspiration books. Clippings of things that appeal to you. I will do a post on this later of the ones I created years ago and still use to this day. 

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