AmericaRecycles
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AmericaRecycles

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There are over 4,500 products made from recycled materials.  If we increase recycling from 35% to 75% we create over 1.5 million new jobs.
Get a look inside a recycling center where recycled trash is collected and separated for processing.
There are many ways you can reduce waste.  Maybe there are some new ones here that you may have not thought of before.  


WHY PLASTIC IS HURTING OUR PLANET AND EVERY LIVING THING

  • The average American will throw away approximately 185 pounds of plastic per year.
  • 8% of the world’s oil is used for plastic production.
  • 267 species around the world are harmed by plastic. 44% of seabird, 43% of ocean mammals, and 86% of sea turtles ingest or become tangled in plastic.
  • Biodegradable bags prevent the deleterious effects of plastic on ocean environments. They break down naturally, and don’t leave harmful chemicals behind.
  • Plastic in the ocean breaks down into such small segments that pieces of plastic from a one liter bottle could end up on every mile of beach throughout the world.
  • Nurdles are small plastic pellets that are the base of plastic production and manufacturing. They are found in sandy beaches worldwide and threaten countless marine life that accidentally eat them.
  • Approx. 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. That’s more than 1,200 bags per US resident, per year.

Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your 'plastic footprint' and help keep plastics out of the marine environment:

  1. ​​Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottled water.  Cloth bags and metal or glass reusable bottles are available locally at great prices.
  2. Refuse single-serving packaging, excess packaging, straws and other 'disposable' plastics.  Carry reusable utensils in your purse, backpack or car to use at bbq's, potlucks or take-out restaurants.
  3. Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag/box that includes a thermos.
  4. Bring your to-go mug with you to the coffee shop, smoothie shop or restaurants that let you use them.  A great wat to reduce lids, plastic cups and/or plastic-lined cups.
  5. Go digital!  No need for plastic cds, dvds and jewel cases when you can buy your music and videos online.
  6. Seek out alternatives to the plastic items that you rely on.
  7. Recycle.  If you must use plastic, try to choose #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE), which are the most commonly recycled plastics.  Avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both typically have very low recycling rates.
  8. Volunteer at a beach cleanup.  
  9. Support plastic bag bans, polystyrene foam bans and bottle recycling bills.
  10. Spread the word.  Talk to your family and friends about why it is important to Rise Above Plastics!

Plastic, toxins, and trash pollutes oceans and gets in fish we eat.

  • Each year, 26 million pounds of plastic travel hundreds of miles from inland areas to our oceans, contributing to massive floating garbage patches, and killing one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals.
  • Due to unsustainable fishing practices and high consumer demand worldwide, 70% of the world's fisheries are threatened or endangered.
  • 32 million pounds of cleaning and garden products, often filled with toxins, are poured down drains daily and polluting local waterways and oceans.
  • Cigarettes and filters are the #1 item removed from coastal and inland waterways during cleanups, comprising 25% of all trash collected.

Everyone needs to be educated on this topic so we can do our best to not personally add to the problem and make smart decisions when buying products.  A lot can be saved by not buying products in the first place that contain unnecessary plastic, paper, and other materials and then bringing our own shopping bag or not take a bag if not needed.  Carefully and thoughtfully dispose of our trash.

THERE IS AN APP TO HELP YOU RECYCLE!

Quickly find recycling locations nearby that accept items you pick from a list. Easily organize locations you want to use by adding them to your list. My Recycle List takes the pain out of recycling by making it easy to accomplish your recycling goals in the least amount of trips.
  • Find nearby recycling locations using GPS or by ZIP code
  • Search for multiple materials at once
  • Organize and save your list for future use: It’s like a grocery list for recyclers
  • In-app interactive maps and Web browser
  • Covers the entire United States and parts of Canada
  • Call recycling locations directly or add them to your contacts
  • Works directly with our flagship site, 1-800-RECYCLING.com, to search over 120,000 locations.
  • Sign up for the 1-800-RECYCLING monthly newsletter directly from the app!
  • It’s FREE!