The system that I will outline is not perfect, nor can I claim that it is the best system. However, it works in an apartment and it is easy for beginners to set-up.
What you will need:
- Two trash cans
- Brown paper shopping bags (optional)
- A plastic sandwich bag or a small container
- Two note-cards or labels
- Trash bags or plastic shopping bags
Steps:
- Meditate and prepare yourself for setting up your first recycling system.
- Take one of your note-cards and write "Trash" on it in big letters. On the other note-card, write "Recycling."
- Place one note-card on each trash can so that each are visible.
- For the can designated for trash, use a trash bag or plastic shopping bag to line the can.
- For the can designated for recycling, use a brown paper shopping bag (or nothing) to line the can.
- Place each can under your sink or in your designated trash and recycling area.
- Label a plastic sandwich bag or small container "Batteries to Recycle."
- Designate a space for glass bottles and jars (these have to be recycled separately).
- Designate a space for plastic shopping bags.
- Designate a space for anything else that your recycling company requires to be separate from commingled recycling.
- Congratulations, you have established your very own home recycling system!
For your system to work properly of course, your apartment complex must have recycling bins (pictured right) for you to empty your recycling once it gets full. If you live in a house, there should be recycling service provided with your trash service. If there isn't, ask your trash company. If your trash company doesn't provide recycling, then fight for it! (Don't start a fight club, but definitely get together with some neighbors and demand that it be provided!). 
What is Recyclable?
What can and can't be recycled usually depends on your city and disposal company. Check your disposal company's website or call them to find out what their regulations are. Also, check out this guide which tells you how to recycle specific items:
Plastic Bag Recycling
Usually, plastic shopping bags can't be recycled with your normal recycling service. Many grocery stores now have special bins for you to place your plastic shopping bags so that they can be recycled and not end up in the landfill. Look around at your local grocery stores for these bins, and once you have found a place to recycle your plastic shopping bags, bring them with you when you go grocery shopping or to run errands.
Further Information
For more information, check out How to Recycle and How to Set Up a Recycling System.
Again, this is a very basic recycling system and it is open to improvements. In the future, I hope to further refine this system as well as to add composting. If you remember back to the three Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle - recycling, while important, comes after reducing and reusing. In addition to your recycling system, work on reducing your consumption and waste, and also finding good ways to reuse items instead of tossing them out.
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