Why Recycle?
- Americans make more than 200 million tons of garbage each year
- Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles hourly & 40 billion soft drink cans yearly
- If everyone on Earth used as much “stuff” as we do in the U.S., there would need to be 3-5 times more space to hold and sustain everyone
- Every year nearly 900,000,000 trees are cut down
- Over 75% of waste is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it
- Recycling an aluminum can saves 96% of the energy used to make a can from ore, and produces 95% less air pollution & 97% less water pollution
How Can I Help?
1. Set up a recycling system at home and/or at school
- Ask your local municipality for recycling guidelines and bins:
- Set up a place in your home for recycling bins (the garage or big roll-out kitchen drawers are good places)
- Make a label for each bin clearly listing what items belong in them
- Bring your recycling to the curb on recycling day
2. Make use of recycle centers for different items
- Wine Corks
- Sports Equipment
- Mobile Phones
- Plastic Bags: most grocery stores
- Eyeglasses: local Lions Club
- Batteries
- Used clothes & household items: thrift stores
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