One of Texas Recycling’s favorite days of the year is almost here. Every November 15, communities across the country celebrate America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to recycling and recycling education.
It is a day to learn what can be recycled, where to take it and how small habits at home and at work add up. And as Texans, we have one more reason to celebrate: the whole idea started right here in Texas.
| What is America Recycles Day? America Recycles Day is held every year on November 15 to promote recycling and recycling education. Keep America Beautiful oversees the national event. It began in 1994 as Texas Recycles Day and went national in 1997. In Dallas, residents and businesses can celebrate by recycling paper, cardboard and aluminum and tin cans at Texas Recycling’s Public Buy-Back Center. |
How Did America Recycles Day Start in Texas?
America Recycles Day grew out of a Texas idea. According to the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR), Texas Recycles Day began in 1994, proposed by two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. They later took the concept to the National Recycling Coalition, and the first national America Recycles Day followed on November 15, 1997.
Today Keep America Beautiful leads the national celebration. It now stretches the spirit of the day across November as America Recycles Month, with a daily challenge calendar. Share your progress with #AmericaRecycles. Its message is simple: small actions can lead to big impact.
What Are Easy Ways to Celebrate America Recycles Day?
You do not need a community event to take part. Here are eight simple ideas for your home or office:
- Put recycling bins where the trash is. Place a recycling bin next to every trash can at home and at work. When recycling is just as easy as throwing something away, more of it gets recycled.
- Learn your local rules. Find out what your city collects at the curb, what it does not and where its drop-off sites are.
- Help your neighbors. Collect recyclables from neighbors who do not have curbside service and drop them off at a collection point.
- Keep plastic bags out of the bin. Plastic bags tangle recycling equipment. Reuse them, or check whether your grocery store or city still offers a plastic bag drop-off.
- Order pizza! Tear off the clean top of the pizza box and recycle it. Toss the greasy bottom. Texas Recycling’s Buy-Back Center takes clean pizza-box tops, along with cereal and shoe boxes in bulk.
- Break down delivery boxes. Holiday shopping season is coming, and so are the boxes. Flatten them and get them into a recycling container, or try a few creative uses for cardboard first.
- Return wire hangers. Many dry cleaners will reuse your metal hangers. Ask yours.
- Recycle at work. Commercial and industrial businesses that handle a lot of paper, newsprint and cardboard can gather it up and bring it to Texas Recycling in Dallas, or set up a regular recycling program.
“…recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.”
Texas Recycling: Our Dallas Recycling Center Helps Your Business with Revenue by Recycling. Call 214-357-0262
Why Does America Recycles Day Matter?
America Recycles Day builds awareness of local recycling programs and shows how recycling benefits our communities, our economy and the environment:
- Saves resources. Recycling reduces the need to extract timber, water and minerals for new products.
- Saves energy. Making products from recycled materials typically takes less energy than starting from raw materials.
- Reduces waste and pollution. Recycling keeps material out of landfills and incinerators, which cuts pollution and emissions.
- Supports a circular economy. Recycled paper, cardboard and metal become feedstock for new products instead of trash.
- Creates jobs. The recycled materials industry supports more than 600,000 U.S. jobs, according to the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).
The U.S. recycled materials industry helps “generate nearly $183.63 billion annually in economic benefits here at home.”
How Can Dallas Residents and Businesses Recycle More?
Many of our customers, from homeowners to commercial and industrial clients, are right here in Dallas. The City of Dallas is working toward a Zero Waste by 2040 goal, and it will take help from residents and businesses to get there.
The city operates more than 100 community recycling drop-off sites, most open around the clock. They accept plastics #1–7, metal cans, cartons, mixed paper, cardboard and glass bottles and jars. Businesses, apartments, churches and schools can also get help starting a program from the city’s Zero Waste team.
Live elsewhere in North Texas? Check your city’s website. Cities such as Plano have hosted Texas Recycles Day collection events for items like electronics, documents for shredding and bicycles, so watch for local announcements in November.
How Can You Keep Recycling All Year?
America Recycles Day only comes once a year, but there is plenty of room to grow. A Recycling Partnership study found that only 43 percent of U.S. households participate in recycling. Here is how to become a recycling star every day:
- Make a commitment. Join Keep America Beautiful’s November challenge and keep the habit going to reduce, reuse and recycle all year.
- Buy recycled. Choose products and packaging made with recycled content.
- Know your program. Learn what is accepted in your area, where it is accepted and how it should be prepared.
- Recycle everywhere. Recycle at home, at the office, on the go and around your community. At work, these tips to reduce waste in the workplace can help.
- Share what you know. One of the most important things you can do is become an advocate. Help friends, family and coworkers recycle right.
“…only 21% of residential recyclables are being recycled.”
| At a Glance: Celebrate America Recycles Day With Texas Recycling • Drop off and get paid—Bring paper, newspaper, cardboard and aluminum and tin cans to our covered Public Buy-Back Center near Fair Park. It is open weekdays, so plan your visit for the week of November 15. • Start a business program—Commercial and industrial accounts can recycle paper, cardboard and scrap metal on a schedule, with collection containers provided. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About America Recycles Day and Recycling in Dallas
Celebrate America Recycles Day With Texas Recycling in Dallas
Include Texas Recycling in your America Recycles Day plans. Individuals and smaller businesses can visit our Public Buy-Back Center at 1420 S. Barry Ave., Dallas 75223, about one mile east of Fair Park and three miles east of downtown Dallas. Please check our current hours before you head over.
Texas Recycling is one of the leading multi-material recycling companies in North Texas, processing thousands of tons of recyclable paper, cardboard, newspaper and metal at our 200,000-square-foot Dallas facility. Learn more about our Commercial Recycling Services, Industrial Recycling Solutions and the recyclable materials we accept. Call 214-357-0262 today, or get started on a recycling program for your Dallas-area business.