Kid Hugger: Becoming a recyclaholic

Mar.05.2009
12:44 am
by scribblekat

“Recycle Everything”

Lisa Mitchell decided she wanted to do something to make a difference and make a living at the same time, and she wanted to set a good example for her daughters, Lucy and Caroline. So shortly after her divorce, Mitchell went into the recycling business.

She learned all she could about the business and, in 2001, founded Recyclaholics (recyclaholics.com), which sells 100 percent compostable products such as trash bags and food-service ware to schools, government agencies and restaurants. For example, her fully compostable cups are made from recycled sugarcane waste. “They start as waste, get recycled into cups, and then go back to the earth as compost; it’s the perfect closed-loop product,” Mitchell says.

In the interest of closing the loop, Recyclaholics recently spun off a second company, Recology Solutions (recologysolutions.com). Now Mitchell sells compostable products via one company and helps customers compost and recycle via the other. She’s also launching a line of retail products online so that anyone can run a zero-waste home or business.

What you can do

Recycle Everything you can

Go to earth 911.org or call 800-CLEANUP (800-253-2687) to find programs in your area.

Buy Green

Look for biodegradable tableware, new materials that contain sugarcane and corn, and recycled paper towels.

Start Composting

“You can easily compost most of your food waste,” says Mitchell. Just remember to keep food and organic matter (such as grass clippings and plant materials) separate from other waste. When the rich soil is ready, you can plant vegetables in it; then, when they’re ripe, use them to make baby food. Finally, close the loop: Toss the leftovers back into the composting bin.