Rethink the Bins gave a simple and concise breakdown of how the recycling process realistically works. I learned a lot of helpful tidbits in general about certain parts of the process for recycling certain items that I never thought about. I think we tend to lump everything with a recycle symbol into one big bag and assume it magically gets turned into something new and useful. This book debunks that line of thinking. It discusses the processes of recycling as a whole like linear or circular economy. Goldstein also breaks down general guidance for various types of recycling such as paper, plastic, glass, e-waste, and other odd items. While she does mention resources that are only local to the Seattle or West Coast area, she also provides nationally recognized organizations that can be utilized. She also mentions alternatives or uses for products that don't involve taking them to a physical recycling center. Worksheets that are referenced and discussed throughout the book that help you in your reassessment of your recycling practices are also available online at her website as well. Very nifty and accessible. While some of the specific recommendations can't be utilized if your area doesn't offer access to them, it's still a great guide for understanding the realities of recycling and how you can bring your best recycling game. This book understands that it's not feasible to believe that most people who try to start recycling will be able to do so with 100% effectiveness. This book gives a "do your best with what you have as you can" energy. I think that mentality will give more hope for amateur recyclers to start and stick with the process. It did so for me.

Four out of five stars. Simple and sweet, informative and useful, and tidy worksheets to help you on your quest.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this title.

Great summary for someone who is starting to think about the waste they produce. It'll make you look at consumption and throwing away with a different lens. Would even be a great gift for a teen who is looking for new ideas. Just a note that most resources and references are US based.

Julia makes her case for writing this book from the first story about her reusable Starbucks cup. As someone who's been actively working to become more environmentally friendly and produce less waste, I can attest that the overwhelm of contradicting information on recycling vs trash vs composting leaves me wondering at times if I should bother to continue making the effort. She also tells you which chapters to start with depending on what your most burning questions are. This book is a knowledgeable reference for anyone wanting to learn more about how waste systems work and what to do in general with different categories of items. I wasn't expecting this book to include a section on tracking and reducing your personal waste, so that was a bonus. No book can be a perfectly complete source of information on this topic because recycling practices in particular vary so much depending on the city and county you live in. But this book is a great starting point.

This was an informative book though it was a shame it was about the USA and I am from the UK.

#RethinktheBins #NetGalley

I found this book interesting and informative, in a concise and easy to read style.
The information about what happens to your waste and the recycling and disposal possibilities is very well presented. It focuses on the US but it provides readers in other countries with a start point that will help them research what is possible in their country. It is helpful for those who are already familiar with the topic or for the beginner recyclers.
The author offers a series of lists which can be used to track our waste and to set goals for improvement. I am personally not a list person but I appreciate that these lists can be helpful to get started in the family or household. I found that the lists also helped me to think about my own habits and how I can go further to contribute to a society that creates less waste.
This type of books sometimes make one feel really inadequate and guilty when the authors appear perfect. In this book Julia Goldstein was prepared to share her own story, what her family had to improve, and examples of what they did. Reducing our waste footprint is no easy endeavor and it felt good to get a friendly push, lots of tips and shared experience,
The epilogue or this book brings us to the hard reality that in our COVID-19 times, the trend has unfortunately been to an increase in waste production and this is one more reason why we should read this book and think about what we can do, on our own scale, to rethink our bins.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bebo Press and Julia Goldstein for this advance readers copy of the book.

“Rethink the Bins” by Julia F. Goldstein is a quick read all about our waste, the different kinds of waste, and what we can each do to reduce our personal waste.

The best thing about this book was the practicality. Goldstein acknowledges the difficulty of recycling. Some areas don’t have recycling pickup. Each area has different rules about what to recycle. Some people have composting opportunities, others do not. But Goldstein still gives practical advice (and worksheets!) for every situation.

I also found it interesting to see how waste management works. Often, it can feel like recycling won’t do much in the big picture, but knowing how the process works helps readers to see the bigger picture.

The biggest takeaway I had from this book was finding out what my county accepts for recycling and what their parameters are. There are a lot of ways to “contaminate” your recyclables, causing the whole bunch to be thrown out. Minimizing this would allow for greater results.

Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. It was helpful and informative, but I felt like there could have been more expansion on various parts of the book, especially for helping people who don’t think recycling is important or helpful. Definitely something to read if you want to be nature friendly!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bebo Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

A book for those who are thinking or want to think differently about how they dispose of items. Along the lines in a combination of minimalism or reducing your footprint. How to think a bit different.

Well researched and presented in a way that was easy to understand. Recycling is a topic that many don't take seriously and, admittedly, sometimes I don't commit to it, but after reading this I have a better understanding of why it's so important.

I appreciate the graphs and charts included - they weren't distracting and they helped me understand the information presented.

The summaries at the end of each chapter wrapped up all the information in a neat, concise way.

Overall, very informative and useful book that should clear up any confusion about recycling while at the same time offering practical tips and advice on how to reduce waste.

This is the first of Julia Goldsteins' books that I have read and I am an instant fan. She manages to be factual without being overly depressing and gives actual usable advice on how to fix the problems addressed in Rethink the Bins. This is extremely difficult with topics such as these. I am motivated to do even more in my life to help the environment and reduce the amount of waste I produce. I will be looking for her other books and be keeping an eye out for her name in the future. I would encourage everyone to read this book, not just people who are already interested in zero or low waste.

Easy to read -- both in content text and in "type-and-graphic" placement.

Definitions were provided without making the reader feel like an ignoramus.

Graphics included were clear, uncluttered, cogent.

Takeaways (summaries of the chapter) were included at the end of the chapter; and were not repetitive text.

"A note on bagging groceries" was a small paragraph, yet provided much information and food for thought.

Chapter 5, "Tracking your waste" was enlightening.

Rethink the Bins is your everyday guide on recycling in the US. The author does mention recycling tips for overseas but mostly focuses on resources within the United States. This book would be a great resource for anyone wherever they are on their recycling/sustainable living journey. The author's writing is clear and concise, easy for any recycling beginners to follow, and provides a nice refresher for any seasoned recyclers.

There are five sections where the author walks the reader through how to start/become more mindful of recycling in their own home. She describes the different kinds of recyclable materials, how collection companies sort materials, and how they might break down those materials and recycle them. The author then explains in actionable steps how the reader can examine their own waste habits and make a plan to recycle more.

In my opinion, the most valuable parts of this book are the worksheets. This is where readers can finally sit down and examine how much waste they are actually producing and come up with concrete ways to reduce that amount. The inclusion of these worksheets is what elevates this guide above others I've seen. Not only is the author giving readers the information, but she also gives readers a place to store that information and plan their next steps. I think this book is a must-have in every home.

Julia Goldstein has written the perfect introduction to the waste problem the world is currently facing and provides tangible solutions for people. This book is packed with helpful information and succinct explanations to how waste is handled in the USA and what we as consumers can do. Throughout, Goldstein cites sources and provides a helpful list of resources at the end of the book. The incorporation of workbook pages to help readers understand their household waste make the arduous task of starting much easier. Lastly, throughout there were helpful next steps for readers to take, for example if you were unable to refuse a receipt at a store as a manager to replace the BPA lined receipts with non-BPA ones in the future thus making the receipt waste better to process. I heartily encourage those who seek to live a sustainable lifestyle to pick up this book and learn more about the waste we are producing!

This short book with 5 chapters provides useful information on where waste goes, how recycling and composting is done in the USA, and suggests options for handling 10 different materials, including food waste, yard trimmings and e-waste.

While the information on recycling and composting rules and policies are American-oriented, I think it helps to give those of us who are not in the USA great pointers on what to look out for or research on in our own locations.

I like the practical ideas on how to prevent wastage, many of which I may be able to do. I had hoped for a lot more tips on how to prevent food wastage though!

I don't think I will be tracking my household waste but people who like to collect data to assess how they are doing can use the worksheets provided in the book or on the author's website.

She also makes available digital worksheets which you can fill in to keep track of the destinations for all your different types of household wastes.

I like that an epilogue was added to give a few alternative tips considering the new Covid19 situation.

I often check the background of non-fiction writers to see if they really know what they are talking about. It was reassuring to see that besides being a professional writer, Julia Goldstein also holds an advanced degree in materials science, and have had a fascination for materials like metals and plastics since college. She also practices what she preaches!

Rethink the Bins by Julia L F Goldstein is a great little book for those wanting to learn more about trash and recycling. It has great ideas and tips about how to start recycling and how to go about it in the most realistic way. A great book if you are looking to start!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bebo press for the opportunity to read this book.

This was an interesting guide on how to be better at recycling and making waste in general. I really try to be zero waste because recycling on needs to be revamped to be effective. This book provided a great baseline for those who are interested in learning more.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Let's face it, looking at all the bins and then back at all your recyclables, it can be overwhelming. It feels like there's a right and a wrong way to do it and everyone says something different. I loved this one for making it easy and less of a hassle. For me, between the kids and myself, it has always been a project every evening and now we have a plan that makes it all so much easier!

This was a short book, but it was still full of a lot of very useful information. I learned a lot of information from this book that I can apply to my efforts to live a more eco-friendly life.

Rethink the Bins from Julia Goldstein, is a quick read that breaks down the confusion and intimidation of recycling. While going through the basics, Goldstein also reminds readers that each town is different and that we need to be doing some quick research ourselves to know what our local guidelines are. She lays out different definitions and explanations of the process of recycling so that readers are educated enough to know which steps to take next.
This is a book that we, as a country, have needed for a long time. Recycling does not need to be a confusing or intimidating task. Goldstein gives readers the tools to understand why each place has different rules and restrictions for their waste management programs, and what we as consumers can do to utilize those programs most effectively.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC.
Well researched and very informative on what actually happens to our garbage and recyclables when they leave our houses. Practical ideas to recycle more effectively or better yet, reduce what we buy/waste. Worksheets help set realistic goals and track results.

So helpful! Appreciated the layout of this book and how easy it is to navigate. Answered all my questions.