Our family has been recycling since day one which is November 2005. It has always been part of our daily routine. In our neighborhood, we are able to recycle - all numbered plastics (1-7), aluminum, steel, all colors of glass, newspapers, cardboard and all magazines. Our County allows all recyclable items to be placed in one container and it is picked up once a week. They make is easy to recycle. However, only 4 out of 15 families on our block recycles. Ouch!

We estimate that we recycle on average 20 pounds per week. Much of the recycle is newspapers. (I still read the traditional newspaper as I enjoy it better than a digital format.) Our family's Recycling is top notch - our Reducing not so much. I also pick up recycle when I walk in my neighborhood and place it in our recycle bin. It is better to recycle it than to trash it or throw it in the street.

In addition, we also recycle yard waste during the growing season. There are pickups every two weeks and we average 2 bags at 20 pounds each for 40 pounds each pickup. It costs Baltimore County $37 per ton for watse disposal. As a result, the cost savings in this example is the County's.