Every year, Americans throw away 22 million tons of perfectly recyclable goods and materials. According to TheRecyclingPartnership.org, this represents an economic loss of approximately $1.8 billion as well as a burden on the climate of about 50 million tons of greenhouse gases.
But according to the 2016 annual report by that organization, only 50% of U.S. households have a curbside recycling option.
And for households that do have access to a recycling program, typically only half of the items that could be recycled, are recycled. The rest is thrown away. Clearly there is more work to be done to ensure that every citizen has access to and takes full advantage of a community recycling program.
No matter where you live, recycling just makes sense.
Recycling helps save valuable landfill space. On average, Americans each throw away 7.5 pounds of trash a day. This solid waste goes mostly to landfills, where it’s compacted and buried. As our waste stream grows, so do the pressures on landfills, resources and the environment.
Recycling helps us become better citizens. As people join together to help start a recycling program, they not only work toward cleaner, happier towns and cities, but they also form lasting friendships with neighbors and other like-minded community members. And when their children are included, great habits are formed at an early age. Good news for everyone!If you live in an area that doesn’t yet offer a recycling program, check out these tips for getting your city to recycle based on information found at GreenOklahoma.com:
Earth911 also offers some good advice in its 6 steps to starting a community recycling program. And to learn about existing resources available in your state, check out HometownDumpsterRental.com’s Big List of Recycling Organizations Helping America Go Green.
Need helping knowing what’s recyclable? We love Busch System’s ultimate “Can I recycle that?” list.
Labels on steel cans do not have to be removed before recycling since they are burned off during the melting process.
Wondering which cities are world leaders in recycling? Check out this list from Harmony1.com.
Does your community provide recycling services? If so, do you participate? Why or why not? Please leave us a comment below!Resources:
I live in an area without curbside recycling pickup. This gives non-profit organizations an opportunity to set up recycling days and earn money from what is collected.
Home owners are able to recycle in the city I live. However, those who live in apartments do not have recycle receptacles available. I drive 20 miles to the nearest public recycling receptacle. The city where I live has many apartment complexes and having a public recycling area would be beneficial. There are public newspaper recycling bins available in the area. But so much more can be recycled. The management at my apartment/condo says it is too expensive to have a recycle bin for the complex. It has several trash bins. The company that picks up trash and recycling for the city, picks up our trash. How much more expensive can it be?
I’m so thankful we have a recycling program in our city, but I know spreading more awareness about what can be recycled appropriately would help others participate so much more! Most people just don’t know!
“Back in the day”, recycled aluminum cans paid for the gas in my car 🙂 I have recycled for many years, and am frustrated by the “no containers” sign on the bin on my apartment community grounds. All those cottage cheese and yogurt containers have to be thrown away 🙁
Yes, my regional district has a recycling program that I use on a regular basis.
I really liked what you said about how recycling creates jobs for people. My husband and I didn’t grow up in an area where recycling was generally done, but I really want to do what I can to protect and preserve the planet. Thank you for the information about how for every job in recycling collection, eight more workers are needed to manufacture recovered material into new products.
Thanks for your comment, Sherry. We thought was interesting too!
I love your tip about how only half of Americans have a recycling program. My neighborhood is full of trash and I want to recycle. I’ll have to consider your tips so that I can fix my street.
I liked that you said that recycling helps save valuable landfill space. I would imagine that recycling helps reuse materials and save the environment. I would be sure to recycle in order to do my part for the environment.