#BeRecycled: America Recycles Day 2016

Written by Kristin Kish, Digital Marketing Intern.

Today is America Recycles Day! It’s no secret that recycling is important. Recycling helps us save natural resources. It sends less trash to our already-full landfills. It allows us to convert paper, plastic, glass, metal, textiles and even electronics into brand-new items.

And it’s crucial to protecting and preserving our precious environment.

In celebration of America Recycles Day, we’re sharing 10 important recycling facts that every American must know. Take a look!

1. On average, each person generates four pounds of trash every single day. That’s 1.5 TONS of waste per year. Per person. It’s kind of mind-blowing.
2. Approximately 75% of the stuff we use is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.
3. Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to power your TV for three hours.
4. If we recycled every newspaper, we could save more than 250 million trees a year. That’s a lot of trees!
5. A plastic bag can take up to 400 years to be broken down.
6. During the time it takes you to read this sentence, 50,000 12-ounce aluminum cans are made.
7. The U.S is the world’s largest trash producing country.
8. We make 21.5 tons of food waste each year. Don’t forget to compost your food!
9. A glass container can go from the recycling bin to a store shelf in just 30 days.
10. Americans throw away 28 BILLION bottles and jars every year.

There’s no doubt about it—the facts are staggering. We must do our part to keep our city, our country and our planet beautiful. Whether you’re reducing the number of water bottles you purchase, reusing plastic disposables or recycling your newspaper every day, there’s a lot your family can do to eliminate waste and protect the environment. This website is an invaluable resource for innovative, actionable ways to go green.

You can make a difference. You can make an impact. And you can start now. Ready to take part in America Recycles Day 2016? Here are some fun ideas to help you get proactive!

• Take the #BeRecycled pledge and share your commitment to a cleaner, greener future.
• Learn more about what can and cannot be recycled by playing this fun recycling game with friends, family or coworkers.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle! Learn more about what you can recycle (and where!) using this recycling locator.
• Celebrate America Recycles Day by attending a special event.