Recycling is easy.

It helps the environment and it makes you feel good that you’re contributing to something crucial each day.

I tip my cap to everyone who participates.

However, not everyone recycles. Or even disposes of trash in bins. I see cans, plastic bottles and garbage on the streets and near freeway onramps and offramps at least a few times a week and wonder why people can’t toss the items in a trash can or recycling bin. It’s not that hard of a task to accomplish.

Here in Redmond, King County’s Solid Waste Division recently honored 10 of our businesses and offices on its “Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list. Overall, 97 King County companies made the list.

Redmond honorees are: City of Redmond, Emerald Heights Retirement Community, FCS Group, Golder Associates, Inc., Hot Off The Press, Keeney’s Office Supply, Lake Washington School District, Microsoft, Noetix Corporation and Sammamish Montessori School.

A job well done to those King County companies that incorporate innovative recycling practices and commitment to reducing the amount of waste their company produces. Some companies create liquid fertilizer out of food scraps and others use electric delivery vehicles.

Since the program began in 2007, the numbers keep rising and 97 is the highest number of businesses listed thus far.

And while I’m talking recycling, Redmond residents can meet up with the Wastemobile from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday in the Home Depot parking lot (17777 N.E. 76th St.) to safely dispose of old car batteries, oil, paint thinner and many other household hazardous items at no cost.

Residents can drop off household hazardous-waste items including pesticides, oil-based paints, automotive products (oil, antifreeze, auto batteries, etc.), fluorescent bulbs/tubes and other items without a charge. The service is pre-paid through garbage and sewer utility fees.

It will take some time out of your weekend to gather these items and drop them off, but it will be worth it. Be a recycler.