Doing your part for the environment by recycling everyday products is essential for reducing one's carbon footprint. However, unless you set your home up in a way that encourages recycling, it's likely to be more of a chore than it has to be. There are some simple changes you can make to your home layout that will keep recycling on the brain and help you to control the amount of waste in your household.

Investing in a few plastic bins to be placed throughout your house is a great investment and will ensure that your trash is kept separate from recyclable materials. For instance, try putting a recycling bin in your kitchen to keep track of empty plastic bottles and other containers. Most recyclable material comes from the kitchen, so be sure to always keep the bin in view for guests who are not familiar with your methods.

Plastic bags are a major problem for landfills across the United States, but they're also one of the preventable forms of waste. It's easy to consolidate your plastic bags into a larger one, and bring it to the grocery store to be reused. This will allow you to clear your closet space and do your part for the environment.

Lastly, paper towels are one of the many products that are overzealously used by homeowners. Keep a few old towels under the sink for heavy spills, which you can easily throw in the washing machine and avoid having to use half a roll of paper towel! With a few of these considerations in mind, you will be well on your way to living in a greener and more sustainable home.