What's your path for a Better World?
RECYCLING

"To achieve true sustainability, we must reduce our 'garbage index" - that which we permanently throw away into the environment that will not be naturally recycled for reuse - to near zero. " -- David Korten

Each year Americans create about 240 million tons of solid wastes - about 4 1/2 pounds per person each day! Much of this waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, but most of it can be recycled. Recycling is taking a product or material that is no longer being used and turning it into a raw material that can be used for something else. It is an easy but important way of helping to protect our environment from the pollution that our wastes can cause. Thanks to the environmental movement, recycling has spread across the country and around the world.

Until 'modern times' recycling was the normal way of life. During World War II for example, when the nation needed to conserve resources at home, 25% of all wastes were recycled. But by 1960 less than 8% of our wastes were recycled. Today, 32% of wastes are recycled in America and there are more than 10,000 curbside recycling programs in America! Each year over 60 million tons of wastes are recycled instead of ending up in landfills or incinerators. The EPA has set a goal for America to reach 35% recycling.

You can help save resources by practicing the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce: Precycle - 1/3 of all garbage is packaging - buy products with minimal or recycled packaging; say no to a bag when purchasing a small item.

Reuse: Many things can be reused before throwing them out.

Recycling: Take the National Recycling Coalition's Recycling pledge:
- I pledge to find out what materials I can and cannot recycle in my community;
- I pledge to lead by example in my neighborhood by recycling;
- I pledge to recycle batteries, cell phones and other electronic waste.
- I pledge to email my elected officials to ask them to increase funding for my community's recycling programs.
- I pledge to tell five friends that recycling is the easiest thing they can do to slow global warming.

Recycling Day, on November 15, is an important opportunity to educate people about the importance of recycling for our environment, and how each of us can make a difference for a better world by recycling.

On the Earth 911 site (http://earth911.org/recycling/) you can locate the nearest recycling center for disposing of items like paint and batteries.

Other Links

America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day (EPA site)

Do Something

Earth 911

Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Solid Wastes

Kids Recycle!

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - Recycling page

National Recycling Coalition

Paper Industry Association Council

Recycling Resource Project

Resource Recyling

 

 

 

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