Recycling Buddy

So what is this recycling buddy stuff. Well it is an idea that my sister and I came up with several years ago.

First a little background. I have a sister (I know who would have thunk it) I have a sister that likes to throw stuff away. Don’t tell her I told you this, because she might do me some serious bodily harm, but she is the one that rents the super sized dumpster to do a little spring cleaning. Anyways after years of nagging, berating and cajoling I gave up trying to get her to recycle. I quit nagging and she gives me first choice of anything she is going to toss in the garbage.

I know this sounds silly, but don’t know what else to call it. We are recycling buddies.

Here’s how it works. She cleans out her closet. She puts everything in black plastic garbage bags. She calls me and I come pick them up. They are out of her house, just like she threw them away. She saves the cost of actually sending them to the landfill. She is happy.

I take it home and sort it. Some is recycled in the classic sense. Some ends up at Goodwill, some is converted to cash, some goes to the rag bag, and some gets reused at my home.

Here are some ground rules to make this work well for both parties.

The giving party realizes that there may be financial gain for the receiving party. They also realize that they are going to toss it regardless and it is going to cost them money to do so. They just want it out of their house. Depending on the situation and your agreement make sure that they do get some of the good stuff from time to time. If they are hauling off your paper and cardboard for free, give them a load of old books or clothes from time to time.

The receiving party realizes that there is going to be a lot of junk to deal with. If you don't have an outlet for number 5 plastics don’t offer to take it. However if your child’s preschool can use number 5 plastic butter tubs take them, be the hero (on both sides of course). Just think of yourself as a broker.

Remember that I said the giving party realizes that there is the opportunity to make money from their garbage. Don’t rub it in. Do not call them up and say “remember that really cute Care Bear hoodie sweatshirt that you threw away, well I just sold it on eBay for a bazillion dollars.”

Don’t do this.

I know, you want to, but don’t. It’s just bad manners. If you do slip up (because you are going to be really proud of yourself when you find out you can make money off other peoples trash) have the good sense to blush and say, “well I did have to repair the seam that was torn.”

Remember, you may start out as the guy doing the recycling and end up as the guy giving it to someone else to deal with. Times change, life circumstances change, be flexible. Look at the big picture, saving landfill space, and conserving resources.

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