America Recycles Day
Did you know that Americans dispose enough paper and plastic products each year to circle the world 300 times? Americans also dispose approximately 1 billion plastic shopping bags each year. How about if we all pitched in and recycled? It could create more than 1 million green jobs. One easy way to make a difference is to Support America Recycles Day. You can encourage your community to participate in this important initiative. By choosing to Support America Recycles Day, you join a nationwide movement making a real impact.
According to the Clean Air Council, these facts are true. Recycling is not only good for the planet, it’s good for our health too. Recycling reduces the amount of pollution and carbon dioxide we breathe. Moreover, it keeps our water clear of harmful pollutants and chemicals. It reduces the risk and exposure of serious health conditions caused by toxic waste. For instance, it helps prevent certain cancers and terminal diseases.
How to get involved to Support America Recycles Day
If you are wondering how you can pitch in to better your health and preserve the planet for future generations to come— your answer is here. Gather your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to brainstorm an America Recycles Day event on November 15th 2011. If you are in college, ask your university to hold a campus-wide event that encourages students to recycle. Also, ask them to provide students with useful information about where the campus recycling bins are. Find out their policies on what you can and cannot recycle on campus. Participating in these activities is a great way to Support America Recycles Day. It also raises awareness.
To prepare for the event, visit AmericaRecyclesDay.org to download an “ Organizer Toolkit”. After you review the toolkit, discuss your event with a store or property manager, professor or city hall official as soon as possible. Ask if you can set up a booth at a high traffic area, such as a shopping center, business park, school, gym or library. Importantly, bring a copy of the toolkit so that the manager or official fully understands the initiative.
Once you get approval, visit AmericaRecyclesDay.org to register your event. There you can also find promotional materials like pledge cards, banners and posters. Display them prominently at your table and around your chosen location. Send a news release to local radio stations and news outlets. In addition, send a mass email or Facebook invite to all your contacts. This helps with promoting the event. It also provides details like the date and time of the event and how they can get involved.
On the day of, organize exciting and educational recycling events at the same location you used to spread-the-word. Be sure to highlight your efforts to Support America Recycles Day during all the activities.
Some ideas for your booth:
A) Set up trash bins for different recyclables.
B) Create a game where children and adults alike can guess what can be recycled and what cannot.
C) Let them throw the items in which basket they think is the right one.
ñ Pass out informative fliers and set up a laptop to collect digital pledges.
ñ Offer freebies, like pencils, stickers and pins— all provided by AmericaRecyclesDay.org.
7. Don’t forget to bring a camera to capture every moment.
8. If you are on campus or at work, make the recycling bins stand out by attaching baloons. Label the bins with diagrams of what can and can’t be recycled.
9. If you are unable to set up a local event, enter your zip code at AmericaRecyclesDay.org to find an event happening near you. Encourage everyone you know to make a pledge. Then, take the steps necessary to help preserve our planet. Recycle daily, compost food scraps and use greener forms of transportation. Dispose of unwanted electronics, like cell phones and televisions, properly. Don’t take our planet for granted. Be a recycling superhero today! In summary, when you Support America Recycles Day, you empower your community to make lasting environmental change.
Thanks To Tracey Linden for contributing this article!!!!
