Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 3rd Edition: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized

by Susan C. Pinsky

Quick Garbage Tips Use LARGE waste cans in every room of the house. Do not empty bathroom, bedroom, etc. cans on garbage day, empty when they are full. Store liners for cans near each can or in between the current liner and the can—there is usually room for a whole box of plastic trash bags. Use large, lidless, indoor recycle bins that accommodate a week’s worth of recycling. Consider recycling redeemable cans and bottles rather than returning them—the deposit may not be worth your time and effort. Place outdoor garbage and recycling bins near the most often-used exit of the home. Place one large, lined, oversized trash bin near the exit of the home or in the garage. This is to catch oversized trash without the need for breaking things down (pizza boxes, for instance) and to allow a quick cleanup of litter in the car without having to schlep it into the house. Outdoor curbside garbage and recycling bins should be large enough that the indoor bins can be dumped in one motion. If your bins are lidless, a hefty rock kept near the curb can be used as a “paperweight” to keep recycled papers in place on windy days. Own one more bin than you think you need to catch overflow. Designate a permanent bin in the garage or basement to collect hazardous waste (lithium batteries, oil paint, CFL bulbs, etc.). Check local town websites for Hazardous Waste Day and put it on the calendar. Once the bin starts to get full-ish again, look up the next hazardous waste day and repeat. Consider pri...