Plastics makers urge expanded recycling in honor of America Recycles Day

To celebrate America Recycles Day Nov. 15 and to encourage Americans to recycle more plastics year round, Plastics Make it Possible® is offering some tips to widen the types of plastics collected for recycling, as well as a chance to win an iPad Air.

Recycling plastic beverage bottles from American kitchens has become commonplace, but many other types of plastics also can be recycled, beyond the kitchen and even beyond the home, the American Chemistry Council, the Washington-based organization behind Plastics make it Possible says.

"Plastics recycling is increasing year after year, which is great news for the environment," says Steve Russell, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council. "We can achieve even greater gains in recycling rates by recycling more types of plastics that we use every day."

To encourage more recycling, visitors to www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/second-chances can learn more about the widening opportunities to recycle plastics and can enter for a chance to win a 16GB iPad Air (no purchase necessary) preloaded with applications, tips and information about plastics and recycling. The sweepstakes will run from Nov. 8, 2015, to Nov. 22, 2015, to focus attention on America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day devoted to encouraging Americans to recycle, sponsored by Keep America Beautiful (KAB).

Plastics Make it Possible also offers these plastics recycling tips that individuals can refer to year-round:

• It's important to be aware of all of the various types of plastics that are collected for recycling in a community—it's likely much more than bottles. Individuals can check with their local communities or trash haulers for a list of recyclables or head to KAB's www.iwanttoberecycled.org and enter their zip codes.
• Recycling plastics used in the kitchen is common, but the rest of the home likely has recyclables plastics, too. For example: bottles and containers for shampoo and other bathroom products, packaging for gardening supplies in the garage and bottles for cleaning products in the laundry room.
• Recyclers want plastic bottle caps and container lids, too. Caps can be screwed back on bottles (that can help in the recycling process).
• There are more than 18,000 retail collection points in the U.S. for plastic bags and film that accept bags for bread, newspapers, dry-cleaning—and even zipper bags as well as plastic wraps used to package products such as water bottles, diapers, napkins and more.
• Individuals who are not near a recycling bin while working or playing are encouraged to place their recyclables in plastic bags and bring them back to their home recycling bin. This will not only increase recycling, but it can help cut down on litter, too.