America Recycles Day!

On America Recycles Day (November 15), EPA (EPA Website) recognizes the importance and impact of recycling.The recycling rate has increased from less than seven percent in 1960 to the current rate of 32 percent. An EPA study found that recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 681,000 jobs and $37.8 billion in wages. America Recycles Day started as Texas Recycles Day in 1994, became a national recycling day in 1997, and President Clinton made it a national observance in 1999.

The EPA encourages every American to contribute by recycling right, not only on America Recycles Day, but all year long. This means checking with your local recycling provider to know what they will accept in your recycling bin. Items like cardboard, metal cans, and paper are commonly accepted by local curbside programs, and items like plastic bags, electronics and batteries do NOT go in the curbside recycling bin. Visit the EPA's guide to How Do I Recycle?: Common Recyclables to learn how and where to recycle these and other items.  

The Keep America Beautiful organization (Keep America Beautiful website) urges people to reduce, resuse, repurpose and recycle in every aspect of their life:

• Recycle at home, work, school, and on the go.
• Buy products made with recycled materials, and
• Educate and encourage family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.

And here at Willow, we have the USAgain clothes collection.  USAgain started in 1999, and is found in 9 states.  This organization collects materials from people who don't have a use for them anymore, and then provides them to people in parts of the world where need is abundant.  90% of the clothes and shoes collected are reused - bundled into half ton cubes and shipped to Central America.  USAgain is a for-profit company, whose purpose is to earn funds that can be used for activities that promote and protect our planet.  By re-using textiles, we reduce the need for manufacturing new fibers, which saves water, energy, dyes and chemicals - which results in less pollution. USAgain also partners with Trees for the Future, and every time the bin is filled, USAgain plants a tree.  In addition, the Willow River Parent Group receives funds for the weight of what we collect. Thank you to our Willow staff and families for doing your part in recycling!

PS
A few years ago, some Willow River students (Gabby Foster and Paige Sundberg) put together a presentation on what can be recycled - feel free to share with your students:  Recycle or Not?