Recyclemania is a currently running national competition with 514 colleges and universities participating. Forty institutions in California are registered (the full list is found on the website). The goal of Recyclemania is to increase awareness and participation in diverting materials from landfills and instead using them as raw materials to make other products. This saves energy, prevents pollution and decreases our reliance on limited resources.
From the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2006 report Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States, here are some interesting facts and figures:
- Approximately one-third of all waste generated was recycled in 2006. In 1960 in was 5.6%.
- Containers and packaging made up about one-third of all municipal waste generated.
- About one-third of our garbage was paper. Half of that paper was recovered through recycling.
- Twelve percent of all the waste was plastic, and less than 7% of it was recycled.
- As a result of recycling, the reduction of emissions was the equivalent of removing nearly 40 million cars from the road.
- And even if the market for buying raw recycled materials is also experiencing a downturn, it will grow in the future…because it is essential! GO RECYCLERS!
For more information on the EPA Report, visit: epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw06.pdf
For more information on Recyclemania, visit: recyclemania.org
Barbara Hirsch is an avid recycler who rides her bike when she’s not riding her bike, walking, paddling outrigger canoes, practicing on a yoga mat, or serving her dual passions – making beautiful classical recordings and working to increase awareness about the environment. Opus1mobile.com
By Barbara Hirsch
