Each year on November 15, millions of people across the nation will come together for America Recycles Day, a day all about spreading the word on how recycling helps us reduce waste, save energy, and conserve precious resources. And it seems only fitting the sole nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling in the U.S. comes at the perfect time – between Halloween and Thanksgiving – two holidays known for creating an excess amount of waste and a negative impact on the environment.
Even though the recycling rate has increased from less than seven percent in 1960 to the current rate of 32 percent, there is still much room for improvement and work to be done to reach the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Recycling Goal of 50 percent by 2030. The collective recycling efforts of businesses, communities, and individuals alike help with this success and growth, and to continue building on this progress, the EPA encourages every person living in the U.S. to contribute by recycling right, not only on America Recycles Day, but all throughout the year.
Understanding what can be recycled in your area is key to ensuring that anything you sort and place in curbside recycling containers with the intention of it being sent to your local recycling center actually makes it there. This means checking with your local recycling provider to know what they will accept in your recycling bin. Items like cardboard, metal cans, and paper are commonly accepted by local curbside programs, while items like plastic bags, electronics and batteries do not go in the curbside recycling bin. The Clean Air Partnership recommends readers research the specifics for your individual municipality.
Another tip to consider for incorporating greener recycling habits into your day-to-day routine is opting for reusable bottles and bags – that way you’re not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce them, but also helping to clear the air by cutting down on the thousands that wind up in toxic landfills and never fully decompose. You can go one step greener by replacing plastic straws and using paper or reusable metal straws, too.
It’s also worth mentioning that a major portion of our waste can be reduced or reused before even resorting to recycling. Shopping at or donating to secondhand stores are great ways to prevent unwanted items from ending up in the landfill and polluting the region’s air quality. Additionally, with the holidays coming up, using recyclable materials around the house like old fabric, maps, newspapers or magazines for gift wrap are also easy ways to significantly reduce waste.
Whether it’s America Recycles Day or just another day at home or the office, your contribution, however big or small, matters. Get started today here and visit our website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair for tips on how to achieve cleaner air the other 364 days a year.