It’s the perfect time of year to fall into new habits, so if you haven’t already started recycling at home or work, here’s your sign— take Keep America Beautiful’s 30-day recycling challenge starting November 1.
The month-long challenge begins tomorrow with this simple task: recycle a can. It may seem small, but taking the time to recycle aluminum ensures this material’s infinitely recyclable nature doesn’t go to waste when its life can be extended ad infinitum.
According to the Aluminum Association, Sustainability – Recycling | Aluminum Association, making recycled aluminum only requires around 5% of the energy needed to make new aluminum — saving money for businesses and end consumers while reducing carbon emissions. These energy savings are equivalent to more than 90 million barrels of oil, so recycling aluminum makes financial and environmental sense.
The first full week of the challenge, November 2-8, kicks off with the waste-reducing action of using a reusable to-go cup. This presents a helpful reminder that recycling isn’t the only action that matters. In fact, reducing what you throw away in the first place is a powerful practice when you consider that the average U.S. citizen produces about five pounds of trash per day, according to the EPA, which equated to the accumulation of 292.4 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in 2018.
To reduce the waste going to the landfill, the EPA encourages the following waste management hierarchy: source reduction and reuse is highest on the hierarchy, followed by recycling/composting, energy recovery, and treatment and disposal.
Once you have reduced what waste you can through other daily reduction actions like refusing plastic straws, packing a zero-waste lunch, or eating pie on a reusable plate at Thanksgiving, be sure to recycle and compost. Accepted items for recycling can vary greatly by community, so be sure to check local guidelines. Region D’s recycling locations and guidelines are available at www.regiondrecycling.com.
And remember, during the month of November and beyond, share what you are doing to reduce and recycle with others because caring is contagious, and your actions are what can Keep America Beautiful for future generations!
