Cleaner and Greener – America Recycles Day
By: June Owens
It was 25 years ago when two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality decided to celebrate Texas Recycles Day geared at encouraging people to get involved in recycling at home. They observed the day and participated annually until they left their positions. That was in 1997 and when Kevin Teurff and Valerie Davis made a proposal to the National Recycling Coalition. They had big goals and wanted to expand the Texas program all across the nation. The proposal was accepted and the very first America Recycles Day was scheduled in Florida. With 40 states participating that year, the news was spreading and many were taking a pledge to help keep America cleaner and greener.
Fast forward to this year and all states across the nation, partnering with Keep America Beautiful, now celebrate the national day on November 15th with over 3,000 events held to share about reducing litter and increasing recycling. As you begin thinking about how to increase your involvement in the commitment, consider the following…
- 60% of trash is recyclable
- Aluminum cans are endlessly and go from recycling to store shelf again in 2 months
- A TV can run for almost 3 hours for every single can that is recycled
- 80 billion aluminum cans are used each year around the world
- Each American throws away most of the paper they use, almost 700 pounds per year
- 5 million plastic bottles per hour are used, and most tossed in the trash, in America
- Every year, a billion trees worth of paper is thrown away
- 50 million homes could be heated for 2 decades with the wood and paper thrown away each year
Knowing the importance of recycling is important. Taking action is imperative! We can all start by purchasing items that are able to be recycled. That is only the start of the process. Knowing what to place in your recycling bin is the next step. We can all recycle more, but if we do not recycle right, our efforts are in vain. One tip is to ensure there is not contamination added to the bin. Rinsing is a key step. Here is a quick reference to get you started but keep in mind that there are exceptions and each waste management company will have guidelines specific to their company’s ability to recycle.
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TOSS IT IN (RECYCLABLE) |
TOSS IT OUT (NOT RECYCLABLE) |
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Plastic bottles and cartons (rigid, like the ones found in a kitchen – i.e.: juice and milk) |
Drink cups, plastic utensils, and any food soiled containers |
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Glass bottles, food containers, and jars |
Broken or sharp glass |
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Cereal, snack, and other cardboard boxes |
Egg cartons and take-out containers |
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Magazines, office paper, and mail |
Light bulbs |
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Paper bags |
Plastic bags and stretch wraps |
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Tin, aluminum, and steel cans |
Ceramics or ovenware |
You may now have a starting point or perhaps a renewed commitment to recycling as we come together to make this a priority on November 15th and throughout the month. We have certainly made some national progress, increasing to a 34% current recycling rate. But if you are like me, that number may still sound rather low. Through the process of writing this blog, I committed to take the pledge and share the pledge. I invite you to help me celebrate the 25th anniversary of this event and do the same at here! Let’s set a goal to see that number up by 5% for America Recycles Day 2023!
June Owens is an Early Childhood Education specialist who spent over 25 years managing programs and implementing quality improvement strategies throughout multiple states. She married her husband Bob, a US Navy veteran, in 1985, has 2 children, 2 grandchildren, and is a member of the Y at the Heights.
