How do you guys organise/make your recycling draw look less chaotic?

8 comments

1. With [these](https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s2/product/rotho-albula-40-l-household-bins-21954961?supplier=406802&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax%3A%20PROD_CH_SSC_Cluster_0.4(C)&campaignid=20975956289&adtype=pla&adgroupid=&adid=&dgCidg=CjwKCAjwravBBhBjEiwAIr30VNnyQb2zE6lhQW-zeijKppMdpu8MixzVFxl2o2J-1YSyIupduliJtRoCfREQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20975957279&gbraid=0AAAAADmCc4PDp27FNDQc7K_MsK3baDKtR&gclid=CjwKCAjwravBBhBjEiwAIr30VNnyQb2zE6lhQW-zeijKppMdpu8MixzVFxl2o2J-1YSyIupduliJtRoCfREQAvD_BwE)

2. Ikea has several cheap solutions. We use the “Bags” (called DIMPA). They are made of some sort of
   plastic, so they dont rip, when getting wet.

3. I have these: https://www.wwf.ch/de/shop/nachhaltig-leben/wwf-recycling-set

4. I take my glass, metal and PET recycling out every day that it’s necessary because the collection point is on my way to work.

5. I just use Mr. Green

6. General trash and in the basement crates for glass, metal, pet, karton and paper

7. We have bins from IKEA that stack but you can still open while stacked

   Edit: they’re called [SORTERA](https://applink.ikea.com/aL7P2y4L8P)

8. I’ve got a bit of a “Bastlete” system going on that evolved through trial and error over the years.

   It’s in sync with the pickup cycles of ERZ (*Entsorgung & Recycling Zürich*), and it plays to my systemising nature.

   **Trash Pull-out proper** (take to the ERZ bins downstairs as needed):

   * Organic matter in washable bin with sealing (!) lid, lined with a compostable compobag (makes washing process less icky)
   * *Restmüll* in small *Zürisack*

   **Dedicated “Paper Corner”** tucked away underneath worktop but accessible, plus a collection-day reminder in the ERZ app:

   * Stand-up Paper containers A4 and A5 for easy bundling come collection day
   * Carton box that fits exactly in the nook (one of my favourite online shops ships stuff in the exact right size box! I’ve become a middle-aged person who raves about perfect size boxes!)

   **Dedicated “Recycling” drawer in a Chuchichäschtli** for washed recyclables, each in **reusable washable cloth bags** to take to ERZ collection points or back to the shops as needed:

   * Glass (sorted according to colour) & Metal
   * PET & Plastic Bottles
   * Batteries & Electrical bits and bobs
   * *Sondermüll* in a leak proof glass bin for the *Sondermüll* collection day ERZ does once a year

   **Dedicated cellar spot for big stuff** to take to the *Cargo Tram* or the *Elektro Tram* or the *Recycling Hof* as opportunity and friends’ car availability permits.

   **Reminders in my calendar** to periodically *Ausmisten* (sort through things so I can periodically donate / swap at *Bring-und-Hol-Tage* / take to recycling points):

   * Textiles
   * Household goods & tchotchkes
   * Medications
   * Cloud Storage

   TL;DR: I’ve got a system.

   Looking at all this typed out, I’m scaring myself a little.

   And I am reminded of my father, who used to say
   “Why be complicated? When with so little effort, you can be absolutely impossible!”

   And to me, that sums up Swiss recycling as we know it.

   Happy recycling 🙂

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