rganized recycling

Recycling is considered to be an environmentally good thing to do. However, many items that could be recycled -- newspapers, magazines, items made of No. 1 and 2 plastic, aluminum, glass and corrugated cardboard -- are discarded in trash cans.

Reasons why Southern Nevadans do not recycle vary. They may live in apartment or multifamily housing complexes where recycling bins are not available. They may not understand how to do it. They may view sorting the items for every-other-week pickup as an inconvenience.

Specialty products focusing on the logistics of recycling have hit the market. More prevalent through online retailers than in valley stores, these specially designed, aesthetically pleasing containers and cabinet organizers offer consumers the opportunity to sort recyclables in one designated location, creating an in-home recycling center.

After they are sorted, the recyclables must be placed in the plastic bins provided by Republic Services for curbside pickup.

Close by, out of sight

An example of a recycling center is the ecopod e1. Offered in white or black, it looks like an upscale trash can measuring 31 inches high. Inside, there are compartments in which recyclables can be sorted, and there's even an area where plastics and aluminum may be crushed with the step of a pedal.

"The main reason why people buy products like ecopod is because they are looking for tools to make recycling easier," said Troy Hoidal, ecopod founder.

"The ecopod compacts and stores your aluminum and plastic and ... you can store the recyclables conveniently. The ecopod has an area for glass that is not crushed, and it has a smaller bin to hold plastic grocery bags," Hoidal said. "We have found that people who use ecopod increase their recycling because they now have a dedicated space for it."

Hoidal has turned to the Internet to market his product. Sales began online in January and have expanded to a few large national retailers' online offerings. It is priced more than $300; Hoidal has plans to expand his company's offerings with others models at different price points.

Also available from several online retailers as well its company's Web site is the freestanding, stainless steel Butterfly Recycler offered by simplehuman, a manufacturer of stainless steel garbage containers. The 10-gallon container's two compartments can be accessed through a dual-opening lid. It is priced at about $180.

Incorporating motion-sensor technology is the iTouchless two-compartment Trashcan NX. Priced around $100, this 16-gallon container includes two removable compartments where two different types of recyclables may be sorted. Its lid opens when there is movement within 5 inches of a built-in sensor.

Basic compartmentalized plastic containers are also available. The Container Store (which has no brick-and-mortar stores locally) offers two such containers for $40 each. The Trio Step-on Recycling Bin features two 17-quart and one 6-quart removable bins, and the 9-gallon Step-On Sorter can be separated into two compartments.

The Container Store also offers the 3-foot tall Two-Bin Recycling Center for $169 online. The vertical storage center features two front-loading compartments, each with a removable 4.25 gallon bin.

Another cabinet-style, vertical option is the Three-Bin Recycling Tower manufactured by Richell U.S.A. and sold at Amazon.com for $50. This plastic tower features three compartments: two pull-out drawers and a bottom compartment that tilts open with a foot pedal. A hook on its side is designed to hang plastic bags. Similar style items may be found on store shelves, but are not labeled specifically for recycling.

Kitchen cabinetry

Some homeowners have opted to keep recyclables out of view but within easy reach through kitchen planning. They do this by placing pull-out shelves and lazy Susans that can accommodate multiple bins in lower cabinets and pantries.

Such cabinet organization can easily be incorporated during a kitchen's initial design, however, finding products to retrofit existing cabinets may be challenging depending on cabinet measurements. Myriad cabinet organizers are available online and a few are available in local stores.

For example, Rev-A-Shelf cabinet organizer products are available through Lowe's home-improvement stores. A select few may be found on the shelf -- such as a two-container, pull-out sliding drawer. Or, consumers may visit a Lowe's kitchen design center to special order other storage systems, including a three-container, pull-out recycling center. A Lowe's associate said that other recycling containers may be special ordered if the retailer carries the specific brand -- just ask.

Residents who utilize such in-home recycling systems still need to place the sorted recyclables in the provided containers that are required for curbside pick-up. However, the trek to and fro those red, white and blue plastic bins is decreased.

For more information about the products mentioned in the story, visit www.ecopod.org, www.itouchless.com, www.simplehuman.com, www.containerstore.com, www.amazon.com and www.revashelf.com. For information about local recycling, visit www.republic servicesvegas.com.