What is the first word that comes to mind when we see those three green arrows pointing at each other in a circle? Thanks to the National America Recycles Day on 15th of November, we now have a day dedicated to promoting recycling practices in its true essence.  

Converting waste material to reusable stuff is what recycling is all about. While recycling processes may be different from location to location, in the US, we have a collection-processing-remanufacturing recycling cycle. Many government-backed and non-profit organizations take part in recycling various forms of waste including paper, plastic and electronic.  

History of National America Recycles Day

Also known as National Recycling Day, this day began in 1994 after 2 employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suggested the idea to the National Recycling Coalition.  

This day was declared to be celebrated each year in the United States in 1997 by a Presidential Proclamation, which encourages Americans to recycle and is nationally recognized. Since then, the Texas Recycles Day transformed into National Recycling Day or America Recycles Day.  

Since 1997, the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) has put all its efforts into marketing the day using posters, ads, pledge cards and conferences. However, with each passing year, it seems like the mainstream media is not giving the day the limelight it deserves.  

Why is Recycling Important? 

Recycling items preserves the planet’s natural resources, earning it a rank synonymous to ecological and environmental awareness. Renewing materials uses less energy than extracting, processing, and transporting raw materials to make new products. 

Just looking at the mining, logging, fracking, and quarrying industries says quite a lot about the morality and ethics of these practices. Not only that, but the damage to the local fauna, water pollution and eventually, human health risks are other major reasons recycling became a global effort.  

By preventing unwanted waste to end up in a landfill or incinerator, recycling companies are not just increasing awareness, they are also establishing jobs in their facilities. The National Recycling Day is a celebration of these recycling benefits. Companies such as Recycle Technologies are celebrating the day by celebrating its services for the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Significance of National Recycling Day with Recycle Technologies

To understand the importance of America Recycles Day, it is best to understand some of the services Recycle Technologies offers to its clients in the Minnesota and Wisconsin regions, as well as the rest of the US. 

Bulb & Ballast Recycling Services

As one of the first fluorescent lamp recyclers in the US, Recycle Technologies has been a leader in lightbulb processing since 1993. On this America Recycles Day, let us pledge to be a business or environmentally conscious residential consumer and bring your lamps to a responsible recycler.  

At Recycle Technologies, we recycle all types of light bulbs and non-PCB ballasts without interfering with a third party. A quick search of “ballast recycling ” would get you straight to any one of our many recycling facilities and off-site shredding areas in the Mid-west. Moreover, we have also produced a mail-in program to bring a recycling kit to you where you live. Do not worry, the mail-in postage is already paid for, which makes the process entirely seamless.  

Electronic Waste Recycling Services

Over 40 million tons of electronics are thrown out worldwide annually and unfortunately, much of it ends up in garbage dumps or hazardous waste landfills. The goal at Recycle Technologies is always to increase the amount of recycling in our community by promoting ITAD awareness. 

This National Recycling Day 2023 highlights the responsibility to recycle each part of any electronic device so nothing ends up in a landfill. It not only protects our environment, but also removes any future environmental liability for your business. 

At our facilities, all electronics including household items and office storage components, are reduced to their base materials of plastic, wire, circuit boards, metals, and glass. These items can be in the form of TV recycling, computer or mobile phone recycling, and hardware shredding services.  

We ensure plastic and wires are shredded and shipped to molders and smelters. Monitors are decontaminated (lead and mercury removed) and recycled to the best possible percentage. Circuit boards are carefully sorted, and their minerals are collected to be reused for the next batch. No liability is generated when 100% is recycled. 

Battery Recycling Services

Battery recycling is a wonderful way to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. More importantly, it keeps dangerous elements from damaging our environment. While working with us, businesses can schedule a pickup with us for any type of battery they may have.  

It is important to store spent batteries as they can either start a fire or leak chemicals that can toxic you and your surroundings. We always ask our clients to properly seal the terminals of the batteries before dropping them on our facilities or a pickup truck. It is also best to separate batteries by their types. It makes our lives easier as we can dispose of them efficiently. 

With the Black Friday sales coming up, it is an excellent opportunity to get your batteries sent for renewal. Few recycling companies offer Black Friday deals, so take advantage of the discount season while it lasts. 

Participating in America Recycles Day

Despite popular beliefs, there are many ways a person can celebrate recycling day. Start the day by educating yourself on the concept of recycling, and what it entails. Make a promise with yourself to practice recycling for the rest of the year. Promote and use the products and services of organizations that believe in and perform recycling.  

Participate in the various activities that happen all over the United States on recycling day. You can look up your local community events: a recycling campaign, peaceful protest or even a recycling drive, where people gather at a recycling facility and submit items in bulk to show their commitment.  

National Recycling Day helps us learn new things about the recycling process and many other recycling relevant things. Take pictures and videos throughout the event. And at the end of the day, share them on social media platforms. This not only creates a good impression on people, but it also increases their awareness. 

The success of our future generations depends on the environmental conditions we leave behind. Recycling is a major step in cleaning our highly polluted environment. A small contribution can make a significant difference overall. As socially responsible individuals, we must celebrate Recycling Day with great enthusiasm and work hard to ensure the message reaches everyone around the States.