November 15th is the annual America Recycles Day, and this year everyone is encouraged to take the #BeRecycled pledge. This day is part of the Keep America Beautiful initiative and its primary focus is to help promote recycling in America.
Unfortunately, even though recycling isn’t new or hard to do, America’s recycling rate is only 34%. And this nationally-recognized day exists to improve that rate. According to the official website, this year’s America Recycles Day has three main goals:
- Recycling at home, work, school, and on the go
- Buying products made with recycled content
- Educating and encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to take the #BeRecycled pledge
On top of this, you are also encouraged to host your own events to help out your local community. If you plan to go outside, make sure to take appropriate safety measures to protect yourself from Covid-19.
What is the #BeRecycled Pledge?
The pledge consists of three distinct parts: Learn, Act, and Share.
The Learn portion of the pledge encourages everyone to find out what materials are and are not recyclable. This can help you increase the amount you are recycling while helping recycling centers not receive waste.
The Act portion calls for pledges to actively take steps to reduce waste, recycle more, and purchase more products that are made from recycled materials. This is by far the most important part of the pledge, as without action, there cannot be change.
The final part of the pledge is to share the information you learn and the actions you take with family members and friends to help spread the movement. One person can make a difference, but 100 people will make it much quicker.
Attend or Organize an Event
Unfortunately, like most things in 2020, the types of events that can be organized are extremely limited. You cannot organize large groups to assemble. And if you choose to pick up litter, wear the appropriate protective equipment.
However, there are still a variety of events you can take part in online. You can find an event near you or online by checking out the event page. Some of the events include jogging and picking up litter along the way, attending online events to learn about recyclable materials, and more.
Another way to actively help the cause if you cannot attend an event is to share America Recycles Day on social media. There are also a variety of pages you can join to find other like-minded individuals.
Just remember to use the hashtag: #BeRecycled if you do.
Keeps America Beautiful And Reduces Emissions
It’s no secret that creating new material creates more emissions than using recyclable materials. As a result, it can save the planet.
Take paper as an example. If you recycle paper, it will mean fewer trees need to be cut down. As a result, the trees can continue absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. It also means that there is less waste to fill a landfill.
It’s simple to recycle, so take the extra 5 seconds to separate your waste.
