America Recycles Day
About America Recycles Day
When is America Recycles Day? This holiday is always observed on November 15
America Recycles Day, a November 15 holiday, encourages us to recycle, and use products made from recycled material. Certainly, recycling is not difficult. It sends less material to the waste stream, and it results in consuming less of our precious and limited natural resources.
According to the National Recycling Coalition, America Recycles Day “is dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products”.
Use this special day to create awareness of the importance of recycling, and to increase recycling. The world will thank you for it. Even if you practice recycling today, there is probably more you can do. We encourage you to look around at home, at work, or in school, to identify ways you can practice recycling. Take an active role in encouraging others to recycle, too.
The Boy Scouts of America have the right slogan for this topic: “Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle”.
Did You Know? According to a presidential proclamation by President George W. Bush, each person in America produces about four pounds of waste every day!
Today’s Slogan: Someone’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Recycling Trivia and Facts
- Americans send over 290 million tons of trash to the waste stream each year.
- The average American throws out 4.9 pounds of trash each and every day.
- Cardboard can be recycled 7 or more times.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that grass clippings and yard waste is the second-largest portion of landfill waste in the U.S. This is an amazing fact. Grass clipping and yard waste are compostable. Basically, most, if not all of these items should never go to a landfill.
- Aluminum cans are the most recycled item in the U.S. Yet, it only puts a small dent into the potential recyclable materials currently going to the waste stream.
- Recycling one ton of aluminum cans saves 21 barrels of oil.
- Approximately 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every hour in the U.S. Let’s recycle all of it.
- One ton of recycled plastic saves around 685 gallons of oil.
- Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and 380 gallons of oil.
- Do you want to save 250 million trees? We can accomplish this if Americans recycle 100% of paper products.
- In New York City, the cost of recycling a ton of trash is $300 more than the cost of sending it to a landfill.
- Sweden only sends about 1% of trash to landfills. It incinerates trash to make energy. Sweden even imports trash from other countries to generate energy.
How to Celebrate America Recycles Day
- First, reduce the amount of materials you put into the waste stream.
- Next, find ways to conserve our limited natural resources.
- Then, buy a composter or start a compost pile in your yard.
- Stop putting grass and other yard waste at the curb for the garbage men to take to a landfill. Rather, compost it.
- Above all, encourage your local, state and federal governments to promote waste reduction programs.
- If items you are about to throw in the trash have value, donate them.
Today's Chuckle
Golf balls are like eggs. They’re white. They’re sold by the dozen. And, a week later you have to buy more.
History and Origin of America Recycles Day
President George W. Bush issued a presidential proclamation declaring November 15, 2004, as America Recycles Day. The roots of this day go back to 1997.
Reader Comments:
“America Recycles Day was created in 1997 by Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis of EnviroMedia. It was based on the successful Texas Recycles Day program and brought together state recycling coordinators from throughout the country, along with the US EPA, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, the National Recycling Coalition, the USPS, and the Steel Recycling Institute, among others. Thus, the day was created to raise awareness of the need to recycle and to buy products made from recycled-content materials – moreover completing the loop. Thanks again for the site!” Stephen M. Roberts, Austin, TX
This Day in History
America Recycles Day is not the only happening on this day. Here are some other events that happened on this day:
- The Continental Congress approves the Articles of Confederation. (1777)
- Isaac Pitman introduces his shorthand system of writing. (1837)
- Beverly D’Angelo, actress, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Coal Miner’s Daughter, was born on this day in 1954.
Related Holidays
People who like this holiday will also like:
Learn About Composting Day It’s a great way to keep things out of the waste stream.
More November 15 Holidays
Here are more November 15 holidays and events we’re sure you will enjoy.
More About Today
Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Cheesecake -it’s a Thanksgiving treat!
Also See: Pumpkin Recipes Galore and Holiday Recipes
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for America Recycles Day or just about any November calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Without a doubt, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Holiday Insights, where every day in November is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Therefore, please join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Furthermore, in addition to America Recycles Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. November holidays are no exception. Consequently., at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.
