How to Organize Garbage and Recycling at Home
June 3, 2019
by Riya Sander
Recycling is not an easy endeavor to take, no one wants to spend hours memorizing recycling symbols or sorting metals, plastics, papers, glasses, batteries, and electronics – but it is absolutely necessary. After all, a zero-waste lifestyle is an excellent benefit for both your wallet and the environment.
Luckily, there are simple and easy ways for garbage segregation at home. They will help you establish a recycling system, which you can stick to without putting in too much effort. Read on to adopt and enjoy a greener life.
1. Accepted Garbage
Find out what your local recyclers rejects and accepts. Simply visit or call the Recycling Centre. Remember to set aside items like electronics as they require special treatment. Some curbside recycling programs won’t pick up E-waste as well as hazardous materials. Even though, several municipalities provide an annual drop-off program to accept such items.
The most common home waste removal programs are dual stream and single-stream recycling. The single-stream recycling program combines glass, metals, plastics, cardboard, and paper. Low-quality recycling, higher contamination, and collection costs are much lower on this program.
Dual stream recycling program separate recycling – you separate the materials yourself. The program has lower contamination, collected recyclables have low costs, high-quality recycling, and more recovery material.
If you want to recycle items like electronics, wood, bulbs, and batteries, consult with your local community or office on what recycling programs provide the recycling.
2. Study Your Garbage or Trash
Study your garbage, before you get the bins. That way, you will determine the size and type of bins or containers you will need. A family that drinks a lot of soda and juices will need a large bin for the bottles and cans.
Consider buying smaller bins in general. Smaller bins save space and they look great. However, if your recyclables are big like old sports, equipment, electronics, get big containers. Taller bins are also stylish and most have handles, you can easily carry heavy load or garbage inside.
3. Know Your Recyclables
Begin by learning your recyclables. Metals are among the most common recyclables – please understand what non-ferrous metals are – they are strong, they do not rust, and they can be sold for cash. Cardboards, glasses, plastics, wood, batteries, bulbs, and electronics are common recyclables as well.
Do not recycle crystal, window glass, mirror, contaminated glass with food waste, dirt, and stones, heat-resistant glass, ceramics, plastic or metal lids and caps, plastic or foam food containers, Styrofoam, and plastic produce and grocery sacks.
4. Have a Storage Space
Is there room in your pantry, mudroom, laundry room, utility closet, garage, or back porch? Or maybe a room for recycling bins in your kitchen, in a pull-out drawer or under a counter? Make sure to dedicate a space that is convenient for the garbage bins. Consider keeping the bins in a spot that is close to where you recycle.
Scattering the bins around your home will create a false sense of having too much garbage. Line them to optimize your space especially if you live in a small townhouse.
5. Bin Shopping
Use dedicated bins for your recycling and organize them by label or color. This way, you will make recycling accessible and easy for any member of your household. Also, develop a routine for recycling and emptying trash. Recycling is actually a simple chore, a kid over the age of 8 can do. If a child is involved, make sure there are no cans with sharp edges.
The number of bins you will get will depend on what you are planning to recycle and the type of program. Keep in mind that you will need non-recyclable garbage bins as well.
6. Prepare the Garbage
Prepare all garbage prior to recycling with your local recycling program guidelines. For instance, you can prep the metals cans like pop cans and soup cans by emptying and giving them a quick rinse. For the Coffee cups – First, separate the plastic lids, and then recycle them.
Unfortunately, most communities don’t accept stretch wrap, pasta bags, single-serving food wrappers, wrap from cheese or meat, and stand-up pouch bags. Also, if your local community recycling programs do not reject zipper bags, plastic bags, bread bags, shopping or grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, outer milk bags, frozen or fresh vegetable and fruit bags, packages of diapers, and sandwich bags – put all these unwanted stuff in one plastic bag and then tie shut.
We believe that this piece focusing on how to segregate garbage at home was helpful. Learn how to recycle items – common as well as the not-so-common. Also, be creative and proactive because not every garbage item will be accepted in your area. You can take the rejected recyclables to another city-run recycling center. Lastly, take pride in your determined attempt of trying to help the environment; enjoy your greener life.
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Adirondack Furniture
May 27, 2019
With warm weather fast approaching, it’s time to turn your attention to the outdoor patio. Create a comfortable and attractive seating space outdoors with our collection of Adirondack furniture. With our selection of chairs, benches, swings, tables, and more, you can easily create a cozy seating area where you can entertain family and friends.
Adirondack Chairs
The most comfortable type of outdoor chair on the 
market is the Adirondack chair. Typically built with a backwards sloping seat and back that sits close to the ground. The back and seat are often contoured for additional comfort. Wide arms make it easy to get out of the chair.
Adirondack chairs put you in a comfortable position to hold children or pets on your lap. This outdoor chair is highly comfortable to sit and relax in – but it may not be for you if you have back or leg problems as it may be hard to comfortably lower yourself that close to the ground.
Adirondack Tables
Give yourself a convenient place to set down drinks, food, books, and more with an outdoor side table. Place this small table right next to your chair so you can easily set down items while keeping them close at hand. Add a coffee table to the center of your patio and encircle it with a couple of chairs to create a cozy conversation area.
Coffee tables generally have a low profile so you can easily see and talk to other individuals. They also give you plenty of space to display outdoor decorations. These tables feature a unique plank design that will complement your Adirondack chair.
Adirondack Ottomans
Add luxurious comfort to your 
existing Adirondack chair with a matching ottoman. Simply slide the ottoman in front of the chair and drape your legs over it to keep your body even more comfortable while you lounge outside. When placed against the Adirondack chair, the two pieces will appear as one cohesive piece of furniture.
The gently curved design keeps your legs at a comfortable position while you sit to allow for increased blood flow. Most Adirondack ottomans fold in half for easy storage when they are not in use, and they come in several gorgeous finishes to match your chair.
Adirondack Rocking Chairs and Swings
Is there anything better than rocking back and forth? We loved it as children and as adults we are still fascinated with the soothing motion. Get some fun back in your life with the addition of an Adirondack rocking chair or Adirondack porch swing.
The rocking chairs are designed exactly 
like the classic Adirondack chairs, but with one major difference – it has rockers on the bottom! This makes it perfect for placement on the front porch, backyard, or even in an all-season room.
The porch swing is also designed to look like an Adirondack chair – sans the feet, or rocker. Simply use a couple lengths of chains to hang it from the porch roof to add instant southern charm to your patio or porch. The porch swing is designed to match Adirondack style chairs, so you can add both types of seating to your outdoor space to create a cohesive style.
There is no limit to the comfort and style Adirondack furniture has to offer. Check out our popular Mountain Bluff Collection to find affordable furniture options today!
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5 Quick Tips for Organizing Last-Minute Travel
May 20, 2019
Guest blog by Kacey Mya, the blogger behind The Drifter Collective
Are you feeling the spontaneous need to skip town? Or is your boss sending you to close a last-minute deal on the other side of the globe? No matter your plans, organizing everything at the last minute might be easier than you think.
If you’re an impulsive traveler looking to plan the perfect trip while also saving a few bucks, check out the quick tips below.
1. Start with Flights
You don’t want to start making solid arrangements until your flight has been booked and confirmed. For last-minute flights, you’ll need to be flexible to get a good deal. This could even mean being open about your destination. Use flight apps and discount sites to find the cheapest fares. If possible, travel mid-week to save money. Typically, the most affordable days being Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you choose a budget airline, carefully check for hidden fees, like a surcharge for bringing carry-on bags. These extra costs can quickly eliminate any prior savings. And remember to clear your browser cache when browsing flight deals online, as websites will save your information and raise their prices when you revisit.
2. Try New Transportation
Flying isn’t the only way to reach your destination. When you want to travel from place to place, sometimes buses, trains and even ferries can be cheaper than riding a plane. While it might take a little longer and the amenities might not be as nice, you can save a lot of money and even have an adventure.
Trains and buses are a great way to travel while getting to see the scenery. This is especially true in places like Europe and Asia, where you can buy one train pass and easily go from one iconic city to the next.
3. Find Hotel Deals
If you’re prone to last-minute travel, you’re in luck — the best time to find deals on hotel rooms is when you’re cutting it close to the wire. A day or two before your trip is ideal, as others will cancel their bookings and hotels will be eager to fill empty rooms at discount prices.
Use your favorite hotel app to find deals in the location you want. You can even set your preferences for star rating, amenities available and price. If you want steeper discounts, look at secret hotel deals where you don’t know where you’ll be staying until after you’ve booked.
4. Use a Credit Card
Many credit cards come with rewards programs that you can use for travel. If you don’t already have a card, look for one that best fits your needs. You may want to accrue miles for flights, points towards hotel rooms or even a percentage of cash back. The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is considered one of the best credit cards for travel, allowing you to earn points towards flights and hotels on every purchase.
When you first sign up for a card, you’ll get an initial bonus offer if you spend over a certain amount. Sometimes this bonus is enough to snag a round-trip flight. Use your credit card to book your last-minute trip and watch the rewards come rolling in.
5. Skip the Hotspots
You might already have a destination in mind for your last-minute travel plans. But if it’s a tourist hotspot, be ready to pay the big bucks. The key to finding last-minute deals is being willing to travel to lesser-known vacation areas. Due to the lack of a crowd, you’ll enjoy savings on everything from accommodations to food.
You can always visit the Louvre in France or hike to Machu Picchu in Peru. But maybe not during the peak season when you have one day left to plan your trip. Let the thrill of adventure take over and find the underrated spots you’ll remember for years to come.
Planning a Last-Minute Trip
Planning a trip on short notice doesn’t have to break the bank. When you follow the tips above, you can find last-minute deals from round-trip flights to luxury hotel accommodations. Just remember to keep your sense of adventure and stay flexible with your plans. The more adaptable you are, the more you’ll enjoy your getaway.
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