AMERICA RECYCLES DAY

www.nrc-recycle.org/aboutard.aspx.

Click on the link above to check out the fun “Conversionator.” Be sure to drag the recyclable on top of the arrow to get the machine to work. Amusing, educational time sink for kids of all ages!

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY

Saturday, November 15, is an annual awareness event to promote the social, environmental, and economic benefits of buying recycled and participating in recycling efforts. The sponsor of the special day is America Recycles Day, a national all-volunteer, non-profit organization whose goal is to increase the purchase of recycled content products and strengthen recycling efforts throughout America.
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste and end up in landfills into valuable raw materials. Old corrugated boxes are processed into new corrugated boxes. Newspapers are made into new pulp for new papers with different news. Glass bottles can be turned into new glass bottles.
Some of the end products of recycled items may surprise you. Glass can be used for roads, marbles, decorative tiles, and surfboards among other things. Five PET bottles (plastic soda bottles) yield enough fiber for one extra large T-shirt, one square foot of carpet, or enough fiber to fill one ski jacket.
Steel and aluminum cans are easily recycled for use in many aluminum and steel products. This not only conserves mineral resources, but the recycling process also uses about 75% less energy than using virgin materials. Recycled steel and aluminum find their way into new cars, bikes, appliances, cookware, and many other products.
For manufacturing to be profitable, a steady supply of recyclable materials needs to be available. Your regular efforts to provide recyclables are very important. Talk to your trash hauler about the local options for recycling.
Conserving resources for our children’s future is a primary benefit. Recycling is also valuable for preventing emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, saving energy, supplying raw materials to industry, creating jobs, stimulating the development of greener technologies, and reducing the need for new landfills and incinerators.
Creating a strong market for recycled products is an important key in completing the recycling process. You close the loop when you purchase products made from recycled materials. Buying recycled has both economic and environmental benefits. Purchasing products made from or packaged in materials that have been recycled saves resources for future generations. www.epa.state.il.us/newsletter. Recycled content is often indicated on packaging Talk to the manager about the recycled products available where you shop.
‘Tis the season for celebrating and buying gifts – a good time to learn to practice conservation by ‘buying recycled’. The idea that most of what you donate for recycling has nowhere to go is a thing of the past. Hundreds of everyday products have recycled content. By buying products with recycled content and/or recycled packaging, you can encourage recycling efforts to continue.
A day set aside to increase recycling awareness elevates its importance. Keep in mind that recycling and purchasing recycled products should become EVERYDAY events in your life.
This information and more at www.nrc-recycle.org/aboutard.aspx. Check out the fun “Conversionator.” be sure to drag the recyclable on top of the arrow to get the machine to work. Amusing, educational time sink!

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water
Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 10/29/08/ (for publication on 11/08/08 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois).
Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org