CONTACTS:
Matt Riggs, MARC Outreach Coordinator, 816/474-4240

Jody Ladd Craig, Public Affairs Director, jcraig@marc.org, 816/701-8241

Don’t throw away what you can recycle

America Recycles Day 2009 provides opportunities for everyone to do their part

America Recycles Day (ARD), held every year on November 15, is a national campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials.

America Recycles Day 2009 offers several opportunities for residents and businesses to get involved with recycling and waste reduction, especially learning to recycle whatever you can:

Glass – As of November 15, you can recycle your glass bottles and jars at a community bin near your home. All brown, green, blue and clear food and beverage containers can be mixed together. Glass isn't collected in area curbside recycling programs because when mixed with other recyclables, broken glass degrades and contaminates those materials, causing them to be "downcycled" into lower-quality products. Find your nearest glass recycling drop-off bin by visiting www.rippleglasskc.com.

Electronics – All consumer electronics — televisions, computers, VCRs, stereos, cell phones, etc. — can be recycled in the metro area. Electronics may contain lead, cadmium, mercury and many other hazardous chemicals. Properly reusing or recycling electronics prevents these heavy metals and other toxic materials from potentially hurting our health and the environment. Find out about regional electronics recycling events and proper e-waste disposal at www.recyclespot.org/electronics.asp.

Paint – Old paint, lawn and garden chemicals, automotive fluids, batteries, pesticides, cleaners — anything toxic or hazardous you may have around the house — can be safely recycled at a local household hazardous waste facility.

Plastic – Plastics numbered 1–7 can now be recycled in most curbside programs and at drop-off recycling centers throughout the Kansas City metro area. These numbers are the resin codes that appear in the “chasing arrow” symbol usually on the bottom of the container. These plastics include most food and beverage containers and exclude most other types of plastics.

Your community or trash hauler may also provide opportunities to recycle and dispose of things properly. Many communities in the metro area offer drop-off recycling centers, clean-up days and free access to household hazardous waste facilities. Many trash haulers provide curbside recycling and bulky item and yard waste pickup. Call your city and/or trash hauler to find out how you can take advantage of these opportunities.

Specific opportunities for America Recycles Day:

• Visit and promote RecycleSpot.org – RecycleSpot.org is the region’s one-stop spot for recycling information. You can help promote RecycleSpot.org by distributing flyers and business-card size magnets.
• Host an event – This could be an office-supply swap meet, a recycling-collection drive, or a clean-out-your-files day.
• Take the ARD pledge – Make a personal pledge to recycle, buy recycled and spread the word about recycling.
• Get youth involved – Many kids activities are designed to encourage children to be more involved in recycling and to care for the environment.
• Get your local government involved – Help to educate your public officials by having them sign an ARD proclamation. Ask your local government to participate in the Clean Out Your Files Day event on Nov. 13.
• Make a presentation about recycling – Raise awareness by giving a presentation at work or a neighborhood meeting.
• Buy recycled content products – You’re not really recycling unless you’re buying recycled, i.e. “closing the loop.” Many stores carry recycled-content products. Look for items with high post-consumer content. Post consumer means material used by the consumer for its original purpose, then recycled.
• Visit Mr. & Mrs. F. L. Schlagle Library, Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to noon – This year, the library’s America Recycles Day event features kids activities including recycled-content snow globes. For more information, call (913) 299-2384 or visit www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/schlagle.

For more information, contact Matt Riggs at (816) 701-8313 or mriggs@marc.org or visit www.RecyleSpot.org.

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