America Recycles Day
SM
Key Messages 2012
AMERICA RECYCLES DAY
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One day to educate and motivate…
One day to get our neighbors, friends and colleagues excited about what can be accomplished when
we all work together…
One day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year!
CALL TO ACTION
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Host or attend an event http://americarecyclesday.org/host-an-event-2
Take the “I recycle” pledge and commit to learn about what is recycled in your community and commit
to recycle http://americarecyclesday.org/pledge/
OVERVIEW
America Recycles DaySM, a program of Keep America Beautiful, is the only nationally-recognized day and
community-driven national awareness initiative dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the
United States. Since its inception in 1997, communities across the country have organized events for America
Recycles Day on November 15 to promote recycling awareness, commitment and action. Last year, 2 million
people celebrated recycling at more than 2,000 events across the nation on America Recycles Day.
Key Messages:
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Recycling is the easiest thing we can do 365 days a year to save energy, conserve natural resources and
create green jobs.
Recycling is a multi-billion dollar industry that employs millions of Americans and helps advance our
clean energy economy.
o It has been estimated that the value of discarded packaging in the U.S. is worth 11.4 billion
dollars1
o Recycling 75 percent of the nation’s waste will create nearly 1.5 million jobs by 20302
Our national recycling rate of 34 percent annually:
o Every ton of mixed paper can save the energy equivalent of 165 gallons of gasoline3
o Avoids greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 36 million cars from the
road each year
Fun Facts:
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The number of cans recycled every 30 seconds equals the number of people who could fill an entire
pro football stadium.
A glass container can go from recycling bin to a store shelf in as few as 30 days.
Recycling one aluminum can will power a 46 inch LED TV for 3 hours.
Did you know that shampoo and mouthwash bottles are recyclable? Even the cardboard roll from toilet
paper can be recycled!
Plastic bags are recyclable, but usually not at the curb. However, many retailers across the country
have drop-off collections for plastic bag recycling. Other bags that can be recycled as well are: drycleaning bags, bread bags and newspaper bags.
Did you know in most communities you don’t need to remove the cap from your PET bottle before you
recycle it? The plastic cap is recyclable, too.
For More Information
If you are interested in additional information please explore: americarecyclesday.org or if you have questions, please
contact Melissa Adams at Madams@kab.org
1: As you Sow, “Unfinished Business: The Case for Extended Producer Responsibility for Post-Consumer Packaging”, 1
2: Tellus Institute with Sound Resource Management, “More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S.”
3: EPA, “ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2010”, 9
10/12/12