This November 15th, the nation will celebrate a holiday dedicated to bringing awareness to the power of recycling. This holiday is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Annually held on and around November 15th, “America Recycles Day” (ARD) “educates and encourages individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives,” the Keep America Beautiful foundation reports. By focusing on individual actions, versus group actions, the day highlights individual actions each person can take to address the challenges facing our nation’s recycling system.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, recycling has and will continue to contribute to American prosperity and the protection of our environment. “The recycling rate has increased from less than seven percent in 1960,” the website reports, “to the current rate of 3%.” An EPA study also found that activities centered around recycling/reusing has accounted for “681,000 jobs and $37.8 billion in wages” within the United States alone. That also accounts for “$5.5 billion in tax revenues, which all equates to 1.17 jobs for every 1,000 tons of materials recycled.”
A few of the other impressive benefits of recycling include reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, conserving natural resources (water, minerals, timber), preventing pollution by reducing the need to mine raw materials, saving energy and creating new jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industry.
While all this information is impressive, it is vital to understand that not all recycling is “good recycling.” There is a specific method that one should take to recycle the right way. There are certain items that can be recycled, and some that are not. According to the EPA, there are ten main items that one can recycle, including: cardboard, paper, food boxes, mail, beverage cans, food cans, glass and plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and plastic bottle caps. There are also a few items that can be recycled, just not put in the city’s blue recycling bin. This includes plastic bags & wraps, electronics, and textiles.
Last year, on November 15th, President Biden made a proclamation regarding “America Recycles Day.” Within his proclamation, the President stated, “While we know its benefits, recycling is at a crossroads today in many parts of this country.” He continued, “Too many Americans are uncertain about what materials can or should be recycled.” With this said, the federal government has issued a strategy guide to help educate individuals on “recycling-best strategies.”
According to the EPA, there are a few ways that we all can “shop smarter,” when it comes to buying materials that are easily recyclable, as well as kind to our environment. First off, the agency focuses on the idea of “thinking green” before you go shopping. When out shopping, it is important to ask yourself a few questions, including: Do I truly need this? Will I use this? Can I borrow this item from someone else? Finally, can I fix the same item I have at home, instead of buying a new one?
With terrifying statistics from the EPA, like, “42% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the energy used to produce, process, transport and dispose of goods,” it is easy to understand how as a nation, we are truly at a cross-road. We must decide to either change the way we consume items day-to-day, or sadly let our children bear the burden of our mistakes. This November 15th, take the pledge to take a close, critical look at your own “Carbon Footprint,” and take the strides you can to be kinder to our environment through recycling and reusing. The end goal of “America Recycles Day” is for us not to only recycle for one day, but to make a conscious plan to improve our recycling and reusing habits throughout the year.
