Weekly Recap: 2/08/13

I used to think that composting was something only people with backyards could do, but I quickly realized there are tons of resources and online tutorials for composting in small spaces.

Despite the promise of no-odor bins that fit under the kitchen sink and dishwasher-safe linings, I'd been hesitant to take the plunge into the wonderful world of composting — that is, until this week, when I discovered an alternative option to an at home operation: Composting at my local greenmarket! After a little research, I found that I can drop off fruit and vegetable scraps at my local greenmarket, to be transformed into compost for use on local urban farming and gardening projects.

The best part — there is no smell! Just store items in the freezer in a covered plastic container until you can drop them off at food-waste drop off near you (search Earth911 for food or organic-waste drop-off centers near you).

Why hadn't I thought of that before? Now I see that there's no reason apartment dwellers can't get in on the composting action, no matter where we are! Stay tuned, updates on my progress to come…

This Week at Recyclebank:

• Proper Green: Small Town Recycling Blues
• Bottle Filling Stations: Preventing Plastic Waste
• Earn: The Case for Cans

This week's top posts from the Recyclebank community:

A great way to recycle aluminum foil is using it to clean the outdoor grill. Just make a ball with the used foil and slide it through the grill and it will be clean in a few seconds.

-Nadya via Facebook

In response to Recyclebank's photo of the day, Lin suggests, "Adding mayonnaise removes white water rings on wood."

–Lin via Facebook

Save fruit "shells" for bird feeders. Take the shell of a pomegranate or orange and fill with bird suet. Hang from a branch and watch the birds have a feast. I make my own suet so it's very cost effective also. Take the outer part of the pineapple, or that almost rotten fruit you would throw away and put it in a mesh bag like from onions and hang it in the tree... birds love fruit.

–Donna via Facebook