Recycling

Speaking as a traveller, I often find recycling situations confusing, because they are different in different areas, or there isnt a bin available for some of the things I have. Even at home, some plastic can be recycled, some can't, and it's hard to remember which. And one is always in a hurry, so things tend to be put in the 'general rubbish' bin. And if there is not a general rubbish bin, or it's secreted away to discourage use, what do you do with say discarded sandwiches and cakes? What about plastic covers of magazines? What about yogurt pots? What if you have no facilities to wash them clean?

I suggest: A simple clear notice saying eg:
"The following items must be recycled: Drink cans; metal food cans (washed); plastic, cardboard, paper.

Please put those items in the recycling bin.
Please put everything else in the general rubbish bin."

We changed from waste bins to two section pedal bins in every single room, including dorms, approx 2 1/2 years ago in our hostel in Sydney and have over halved our waste expense.
Each side of the bin simply has a sign that says general waste (in red) and a recycling sign (in yellow)on the side of the bin and then a small label for each lid (in the same colours).
The view we took was that it is better for the guests to put things in the bin thinking it can be recycled rather than not at all, especially being that a lot of items these days can be recycled that weren't able to previously.
We find that most people use the two seperate bins as they should and is a much smaller job for our housekeeping staff to remove items from regular rubbish bins to place into recycling, saving time and money.
We have a much larger recycling pick up each week than we do regular waste. With a difference of about $4 a bin (saving) that is a big amount on the bottom line each year.

We changed from waste bins to two section pedal bins in every single room, including dorms, approx 2 1/2 years ago in our hostel in Sydney and have over halved our waste expense.
Each side of the bin simply has a sign that says general waste (in red) and a recycling sign (in yellow)on the side of the bin and then a small label for each lid (in the same colours).
The view we took was that it is better for the guests to put things in the bin thinking it can be recycled rather than not at all, especially being that a lot of items these days can be recycled that weren't able to previously.
We find that most people use the two seperate bins as they should and is a much smaller job for our housekeeping staff to remove items from regular rubbish bins to place into recycling, saving time and money.
We have a much larger recycling pick up each week than we do regular waste. With a difference of about $4 a bin (saving) that is a big amount on the bottom line each year.

Thanks a lot for your reply. Very interesting to hear that it has worked for you. I think we'll give them a try, my only real fear is that we'll end up with all sorts of stuff in the recycling section that can't be recycled here. Already in the kitchen one which is clearly labelled with both words and graphics what it will take, we end up with all sorts of stuff which may be recyclable in some places but isn't here. Just a bit of a pain to go through it, especially when they put used tissues in (Does anywhere encourage putting used tissues into recycling?).

I've attached a picture of the labels on our recycling bins. [ATTACH=CONFIG]1401[/ATTACH]

In California many businesses do, but they go in a separate "compost" bin, not with the plastic or glass. :)

I'd be happy if they went in the compost - anything to save me having to fish them out of the recycling!