America Celebrates Recycling

Hundreds of events are being held across the nation to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and to encourage Americans to sign personal pledges to recycle and buy recycled products in honor of America Recycles Day Nov. 15.

“We expect hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country to sign pledges, come to events and rally around the importance of recycling,” Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), says. “Many people are already active recyclers and look for recycled products when they shop. But for recycling to really make a difference, we need to involve even more people. America Recycles Day is an opportunity for us to do just that. Recycling is a win-win situation, so we hope everybody will do his or her part.”

In 2005, more than 100,000 individuals signed or e-mailed pledges to recycle and buy recycled. Many of these pledges were signed during America Recycles Day events, with more than 1,000 events staged across the country.

The theme for this year’s campaign is “It All Comes Back to You,” which holds multiple meanings. For instance, a recycled product can return to consumers as another new product; recycling comes back to consumers as an improved environment, preservation of resources and economic well-being of the country; and it is everyone’s responsibility to recycle.

More information about America Recycles 2006 activities is available at www.americarecyclesday.org. The pledge can also be signed online or forms can also be picked up at America Recycles Day events and from participating organizations. This year, everyone who signs an America Recycles Day pledge will be entered in a random drawing to win an Alaskan cruise vacation and several youth prizes.

America Recycles Day 2006 is sponsored nationally by Waste Management Recycle America, Staples Inc., Novelis Corp., American Beverage Association and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. America Recycles is a program of the National Recycling Coalition, a 501(c)(3) membership organization of recycling professionals, businesses large and small and advocates from every region of the country.