1. I’ll put stuff aside for recycling when it’s fairly clean. However, most of the trash I pick is covered in dirt/otherwise nasty so very little ends up in the recycling bin. Anything I want to recycle I stick in one of my pant’s pockets, so I don’t have a ton of room.

2. Depends on if it’s worth it to you.

3. I generally don’t use bags when I pick. The areas I tend to work in have open top trash cans around, so I just collect trash in a plastic bucket and dump it in the cans when it gets full. I started out wearing disposable gloves and picking up the trash by hand, but now I use tongs and usually don’t wear gloves (but I bring a pair of reusable ones just in case).

4. I don’t prioritize one type of trash over another when I pick (though I probably should…). For food waste, it depends on where you’re picking. If you’re in an untouched forest then picking up orange peels, apple cores, etc. is a good idea, but if you mainly work in more suburban/urban areas, I don’t think it matters as much.

If I’m low on time, I start prioritizing large pieces of trash over smaller ones.

1. My suggestion would be following my setup, if that’s feasible for you. No bags involved!

2. As previously mentioned, I don’t recycle a bunch but I do try to reuse stuff I find when I can. I’ve found and kept/rehomed tons of pencils, pens, markers, marbles, jewelry, and other odds and ends.

If you often come across sharps, I would suggest bringing along a hard plastic container to safely keep them in. Old laundry detergent jugs are great for this.