It’s Time (Again) to Celebrate Recycling
Save your plastic, paper, pallets, and save the date! America Recycles Day occurs once again (pardon the pun) on Tuesday, November 15.
Save your plastic, paper, pallets, and save the date! America Recycles Day occurs once again (pardon the pun) on Tuesday, November 15.
America Recycles Day occurs each year on November 15. It was created by the National Recycling Coalition in 1997. Two years later the president signed an official proclamation, making it a national observance. It is now recognized as a day to create awareness for and encourage Americans to recycle and buy recycled products.
In our industry, recycling is critical. Did you know? Pallets are one of the very few products in our global economy that can cycle in both technical and biological systems. From a technical standpoint, pallets are designed for remanufacturing and repair, so they circulate during their product lifecycle. After they’ve reached the end of their useful product lifecycle, their raw material (or biological components) can be recycled into materials which continue to circulate in and contribute to our economy.
That’s just one of the reasons we love America Recycles Day, but there are many more reasons to raise awareness and take action for this great cause every fifteenth of November.
In fact, the organizers of this year’s event site three big reasons: to end littering, to beautify communities, and to improve recycling practices in America. In that spirit, they want you to “Recycle like Everyone’s Watching.” Here are a few ways you can do that.
At work, begin with your operation’s pallet procurement. Approximately 20% of pallets not in use are discarded in a landfill. Reusing pallets is a great way to prevent this waste and greatly impact the bottom line.
Little things help, too, like opting to bring your own reusable utensils for lunchtime and snacks, use a coffee mug from home rather than paper cups, and pack lunch in a reusable container. It’s also a great practice to wash and sort your recyclables before placing them in the recycling bin at work. Teach others to do that same. (Note: items that are heavily soiled or impossible to clean cannot be recycled.)
Aside from your warehouse and workplace, you can do your part to recycle and reduce waste in your home or neighborhood. At the America Recycles Day Web site, you can determine when, where, and how to recycle in your community; take a pledge to learn about recyclable materials, actively reduce your waste output, and encourage others to recycle; and attend or organize a recycling event.
For more information on recycling and educational resources, visit the National Recycling Coalition.
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