A Day for Recycling

America Recycles Day falls annually on November 15, a day where local communities, state officials and the federal government have recognized the importance of recycling since 1997. Through local programs and events, the goal of America Recycles Day has always been to educate on recycling and the use of recycled products.

America Recycles Day was inspired by the Texas Recycling Coalition, which developed a program called Texas Recycles Day in 1993. This statewide event was designed to put recycling in the spotlight, and though it took four years for the program to go nationwide, Texas Recycles Day was the model for the national program.

The National Recycling Coalition petitioned the Federal government to designate America Recycles Day as a nationally recognized holiday. Now in its 11th year, America Recycles Day reaches millions of people to educate on the importance of recycling more than once a year.

America Recycles Day also has a five-part pledge that its participants are encouraged to commit to. The five parts of the pledge are:

• I pledge to find out what materials I can and cannot recycle in my community.
• I pledge to lead by example in my neighborhood by recycling.
• I pledge to recycle batteries, cell phones and other electronic waste.
• I pledge to email my elected officials to ask them to increase funding for my community’s recycling programs.
• I pledge to tell five friends that recycling is the easiest thing they can do to slow global warming.

To find out more about the importance of recycling and all of the products you are able to recycle, visit Earth 911′s Recycling page.

Sources:

• AllBusiness.com
• America Recycles Day
• Texas Recycles Day