By Gloria and Ollie Maier
Came across what we thought were some interesting figures in a recent Resource Recycling e-newsletter, hope you think so too.
“A new report released by the American Beverage Association (ABA) divulges that an estimated 229 million Americans (74 percent of the total U.S. Population) have access to some form of household curbside recycling service.”
(However, it was also estimated that up to 60 million of them do not take advantage of this. We hope that if you have this opportunity, you take advantage of it.)
The article went on to state, “Further, the survey revealed that an estimated 256 million Americans, or 83 percent of the total U.S. population, have access to some form of local drop-off recycling service. And, between 81 percent and 90 percent of the U.S. population has access to a recycling program that allows them to recycle aluminum, polyethylene terephthalate, clear glass, high-density polyethylene and steel containers.”
(From what we have seen at some of the local recycling drop-off sites, many of you are taking advantage of them. Keep up the wonderful concern for our country and future generations.)
Along that same line, another item mentioned an eastern city is creating, “... a new campaign designed to remind residents that recycling is an easy and important way to make Greenville more environmentally sustainable.”
This campaign will encourage its “... residents to recycle more by educating them about the details of the city’s existing recycling program. The campaign features print ads and other materials reminding residents to recycle... “
It also informs them “... where they can find out how to recycle at home as well as through the city’s free drop-off location... “.
(Sounds like a good effort.)
Last week we mentioned Texas Recycles Day (Nov. 15th), which the rest of the country also picked up on and called it America Recycles Day. A few items we found in a Recycling Today e-newsletter concerning it: Nationwide, almost 750 organizations put on an estimated 2,375 events to celebrate the 12th annual America Recycles Day.
Businesses were also involved. For example: “In honor of the big day, Continental Airlines announced that, as part of the airline's recycling efforts, it has collected more than four million pounds of mixed recyclables so far in 2009. The recyclables were collected at Continental's Houston Bush International, New York/Newark Liberty and Cleveland Hopkins hubs, and represented an 800-percent year-over-year increase.”
And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in their TV Recycling Challenge, which ran from January through August 2009, “Participants have recycled approximately 8.2 million pounds of materials as part of the challenge.”
Till next week, do have a great one... And a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Gloria and Ollie are local citizens concerned with the environment and helping others. Ollie is a graduate of Leadership San Marcos and they both received higher education at TxState University and worked on staff before retiring. For questions or comments, please call them at 353-7432 or e-mail omaier@TxState.edu.
