15 Simple Hacks For People Who Never Recycle But Know They Should

Being a true friend to the Earth was never so easy.

1. Buy a "recycling only" bin...

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This way you won't have to faff around separating all your recyclables from rubbish the night before your bins are picked up.

2. ...and then prettify it so you'll actually want to use it.

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Upgrade your current recycling bin from drab to fab with the help of Claire from Pillar Box Blue's tutorial.

3. If you're running out of space, pop some hooks and a plastic bag on the back of a cupboard door.

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These clips are cheap, easy to use, and will help you capitalise on space. Buy some here.

4. If you'd rather hide away your bins, repurpose a pullout drawer to house them. You can even include different bins for different types of recycling — creating an entire recycling centre in your drawer!

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This doesn't just work for kitchen cupboards – if you have an old office drawer knocking around, repurpose those babies!

5. Never sure what you can and can't recycle? Stick a cheat sheet on your bin or fridge.

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The rules for recycling are slightly different for every council in London, so look on your council's website to make sure you're clear on what you can and can't chuck.

6. Remember to wash out all plastic containers and pop on their lids before chucking them away.

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Washing out your plastic containers and bottles prevents cross-contamination in the recycling process.

7. Put a mini recycling bin in your bathroom.

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The inner tube of a toilet roll is recyclable as are shampoo and conditioner bottles when they've been washed out! This bin from IKEA comes in a chic and subtle grey colour. Buy it here.

8. Flatten all your cardboard boxes before you chuck them.

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Yup, super simple, but this way you'll be able to pack more in.

9. Keep a plastic bag in your hallway to just pop your junk mail in...

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Even in a hunger emergency, you would not need 11 leaflets on where to get pizza near your house.

10. ...or put a "no junk mail" sign on your door.

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Yes, it might seem a little passive aggressive, but, by taking a stand, you will hopefully contribute to less waste.

11. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to put the recycling out.

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Whether you set it for the morning or the night before, this way you should never forget.

12. Ask your local council for a food-waste caddy.

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Not all boroughs have a food-waste recycling service, but, if yours does, pop those leftover scraps, teabags, eggshells, and peelings into your caddy with a compostable liner.

13. Don't just chuck away electronics when you're done with them.

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Printer finally sang its swan song? Check with your local recycling centre whether they are able to take electrical goods that are passed their best.

14. Think before you buy.

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Even by being a tiny bit more conscious about what you buy, you can make a big difference. Start buying rechargeable batteries, recycled paper, and invest in a water bottle so you can give up your plastic bottle habit!

15. Locate your nearest charity shop and donate, donate, donate.

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If you've gone off some of your clothes but know that someone else would love them, pop them into your local charity shop. Why not find yourself some new threads while you're in there?

Did you know that if every Londoner recycled just one more aluminium can, we'd save enough energy to power a TV set every day for nearly 63 years?

Find out more about why we should all be recycling at London Recycles.