Copyright © In your Kitchen Sponsored & Presented by Michigan Recycling Coalition & Michigan Professional Organizers

Presenter Introductions NAPO Michigan Professional Organizer(s) Michigan Recycling Coalition Member(s) Copyright ©

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Agenda About the Program Part 1: Organize Part 2: Recycle Q & A Copyright ©

About the Program Program Objective: To increase awareness throughout Michigan and to educate local residents on the basics of getting organized and recycling at home. Free at local libraries in Michigan New Presentation Topic Every Quarter Web: Copyright ©

Upcoming Topics Organize & Recycle in your Garage Organize & Recycle in your Bathroom Organize & Recycle in your Home Office Organize & Recycle in your Bedroom / Closet Copyright ©

Why Bother to Organize? Find items faster. Keep clutter at bay and have more space to use. Avoid over-buying and other unnecessary expenses. Easier to recycle! Enjoy life more. Copyright ©

Did you know... 20% of the items in your kitchen are used about 80% of the time? Called the Pareto Principle or the 80/20 Rule. Think of all the cabinet space the other 80% of rarely-used kitchen items occupy! Copyright ©

The Organizational Process 1. Decide to Get Organized 2. Create a Plan 3. Sort the Space 4. Create Zones 5. Keep it Up Copyright ©

Decide to Get Organized! Make it a priority! Schedule time in your planner. Enlist help where needed. Copyright ©

Create a Plan What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to change? How do you want it to look or feel? When do you want to start? Where do you want to start? Copyright ©

Select a Starting Point One drawer, one cabinet, or one shelf at a time. Caution: taking on too much can be overwhelming. Remove items from the space. Copyright ©

Sort your Items Place similar items together. You will be able to see what you have. Do you have more than you thought? Copyright ©

Can you Pare Down? Ask yourself: Do I frequently use it? Is it easy to use? Do I have too many? Do I need both? Donate excess items to a local charity. Recycle recyclable items. Copyright ©

Create Zones A zone is a group of related items. Sample zones: Dishware & glassware Linens & towels Small appliances Food items Recycling and trash Copyright ©

Create Zones Designate specific uses for each cabinet shelf, & drawer. “The silverware drawer” “The canned goods shelf” Store items near where you use them. Pots-n-pans near stove. Dish towels near sink. Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Use drawer organizers and dividers. Place similar items in the same divider cubby. Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Do not over-fill or overcrowd the container. Leave space to see and access each item. Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Use small bins or baskets to store related items on a shelf or in a drawer. Small shoe boxes or check boxes work too! Copyright ©

If you have plastic storage containers: Stack ‘em to save space. Use a basket for lids. Donate or Recycle unneeded containers. Line up boxes like library books, it makes them easier to read. Ex: cake boxes. Helpful Organizational Tips Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Use lazy susans / turn tables in upper cabinets and in your fridge. Easier to see & access items in the back. Results in less waste! Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Avoid Over-Buying Know what you already have so you don’t buy duplicates. Watch out for sales and don’t buy more than you need, regardless if it’s a ‘great deal’. Ask yourself: What amount can I reasonably consume before this expires? Copyright ©

Helpful Organizational Tips Purchase products with recyclable packaging. * Not all plastic food packaging is recyclable. Check the #s on the container. Copyright ©

Keep it Up! Put items away when you’re finished using them. Similar to putting milk back in the fridge (& recycling the jug)! Keep at it, change can take time. Copyright ©

So, what’s one area in your Kitchen you plan to organize in the next week? Copyright ©

Find your Local Organizer Organizing professionals are located in or near almost every city throughout the state! Find your local professional organizer at Copyright ©

Why Bother to Recycle? To conserve the Earth’s natural resources, to save energy, to reduce the impact of climate change Returning discarded commodities back to the economy creates jobs & wealth and reduces our environmental impact Copyright ©

How does this relate to you? We all hear the news about Climate Change and pollution. You can make a positive difference by recycling your waste at home! You can feel great about doing your part to help the environment. (Relieve those twinges of guilt!) Copyright ©

Recycling Starts in the Kitchen Waste Basket Recycling Bin Compost Bucket Reuse area (bin, drawer, etc.) Copyright ©

Look at your Options Do you have curbside recycling? Will you have a bin, a roll-out cart, or other type of container? Is the program single or dual stream? D o you have a backyard compost bin? If so, what type of container will you use to collect kitchen scraps? Copyright ©

Organizing Reuse/Recycling Areas in the Kitchen Is the garage located adjacent to the kitchen? Is that the ideal place for the recycling bins? How about the area under the sink? Is that area big enough for your recycling bin and/or compost bucket? Identify an area to collect recyclables, either commingled or separated.

Types of Recyclables Glass (all colors) Tin/steel cans Aluminum Household Plastic Containers (#1, #2) Newspapers Magazines/Catalogs Corrugated cardboard Brown paper bags Boxboard Telephone books Rinse/clean dirty recyclables to eliminate odors/pests Sort recyclables in kraft bags if collected separately at the curb Copyright ©

Compostable Material Fruit and vegetable scraps Tea bags, coffee & filters Dead house plants Crushed egg shells Cereal/grains Bread Copyright ©

Composting Options Backyard compost bin – Keep a bucket on the kitchen counter or under the sink for easy access. Dump regularly Empty the compost container frequently, put a piece of compostable paper in the bottom to absorb liquid and make it easier to clean Lids control pests and smells in hot weather Try freezing food waste before adding it to pile to prevent odors Worm bin – Keep under sink, in closet or pantry

Worm Bins Getting started Commercial bins available Build your own Tips Troubleshooting

Items for Reuse – To get rid of Do you have items you have been saving because they might come in useful or you are not able or willing to throw them away? Consider your local reuse center for items such as milk jug caps, ice cream pails, baby food jars with lids, etc. If the item has any value, donate it to your local thrift store.

Common Items to Save for Reuse Plastic and paper shopping bags Plastic baggies of various sizes Plastic and glass jars Plastic forks, spoons, etc. Bread bags Rubber bands, twist ties Use caution here! If you are a chronic saver/collector of “items that might come in useful”, limit yourself to only saving a set amount of items that will fit in your designated area.

Hard to Recycle Items Flexible plastic & layered packaging Batteries, alkaline & rechargeable Household hazardous waste – safely get rid of cleaning products you do not use Consider purchasing products that are better for the environment and can be recycled. They will be safer for your family and pets as well! Copyright ©

Get the Family On-board Get kids involved in setting it up Talk up the new kitchen system Provide recycling information on the refrigerator Use signs to remind what goes where Copyright ©

Know & Share the Resources Keep up with local recycling / composting programs – less garbage may mean less cost Share the positive changes in your house with others – our collective work can have big impact Copyright ©

Local Recycling Contact Member of the Michigan Recycling Coalition Recycling professionals who live and work in your area Website: Copyright ©

Collect Audience Sign-Up Forms Copyright ©

Collect Individual Audience Forms

Upcoming Topics Organize & Recycle in your Garage Organize & Recycle in your Bathroom Organize & Recycle in your Home Office Organize & Recycle in your Bedroom / Closet Copyright ©

For More Info Copyright ©

Presentation Credits Program Sponsors Michigan Recycling Coalition NAPO Michigan Professional Organizers Part 1 Content: Organize Karen DeClark, Trish Krebs, Ann Marie Moore Part 2 Content: Recycle Lori Miller, Kerrin O’Brien Photo Credits Part 1: Ann Marie Moore (All photos in Part 1 are the property of Ann Marie Moore, Moore Organization LLC. These photos are not to be used outside of this presentation unless permission is granted by Ann Marie Moore - Copyright ©