A national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, America Recycles Day is celebrated on November 15 to educate individuals on the importance of recycling. As a company that manufactures 100% recycled containerboard that is used to produce our sustainable packaging solutions, Pratt Industries celebrates America Recycles Day in order to bring attention to recycling and its many benefits. Our mission for this day is to educate and empower Americans to recycle and buy recycled products.
What is the history of America Recycles Day?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the positive impact recycling has not only for the prosperity of America but for the ongoing health of our planet as a whole.To formally recognize the importance of recycling, the EPA first observed National Recycling Day in 1997. Since then, the day has been observed annually on November 15th.
This special day is dedicated to the education and empowerment of Americans to recycle more and celebrate the good that recycling can bring. The day itself encourages citizens to be mindful and properly practice the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Since its inception, recycling efforts have increased significantly, but there is still work to be done.
The Importance of Recycling
Recycling has many benefits, including:
- Helps reduce consumption of finite resources
- Supports reduction of waste that would normally be sent to landfills
- Helps minimize pollution that comes from the mining of new materials
- Products made from recyclable materials can help reduce energy consumption
- Creates economic security and jobs to support the recycling-based sectors
From large corporations to individuals, the benefits that come from recycling can be felt by everyone.
In the video below, President of Pratt Recycling, Inc., Shawn State, reminds us of the importance of recycling to ensure landfill diversion of materials like paper, plastic, and aluminum. Pratt Industries produces 100% recycled containerboard made from recovered paper and packaging materials that are processed in our material recovery facilities across the country. That containerboard is then used to create custom, sustainable packaging solutions.
According to Pratt Industries Executive Chairman, Anthony Pratt: “Recycling is an important weapon against climate change because as things decay in the landfill, they emit methane gas, which is 80 times worse for the environment than CO2 emissions in causing the greenhouse effect.”
Tips for Recycling Success
Recycling is critical to protecting natural resources and diverting materials from landfills. At Pratt Industries, our mission is to maximize landfill diversion for businesses and communities and move them towards their ZERO landfill goals. Pratt Recycling, Inc. works with businesses and communities across the U.S. to help divert over 3 million tons of materials from landfills every year. Here are some tips organizations can use for recycling success:
- Place your recycling container in a visible and accessible area. Location will make a big difference in the amount of recyclables you collect.
- Educate everyone within your organization on the benefits of recycling.
- Track the volume of recyclables you are collecting as compared to the reduction in waste. Report on the success of recycling efforts.
- Ensure that all recycling receptacles and bins are labeled clearly.
- Purchase already recycled packaging.
Residential households have the ability to keep hundreds of pounds of recyclable materials out of the landfill every year by following proper recycling habits. Watch and learn how you can make a difference through your curbside recycling efforts!
Pizza Boxes ARE Recyclable!
A hotly debated topic, the recyclability of a pizza box has long eluded many consumers. It turns out with minimal effort, many pizza boxes are recyclable. In fact, the paper, recycling and pizza industries are coming together to encourage recycling programs to accept empty corrugated pizza boxes and to make sure recycling guidelines clearly state that pizza boxes are accepted! Remember to remove large food remnants from the box before placing your used pizza box in the recycle bin.
Your residential recycling efforts do make a difference. Recycling helps conserve finite, natural resources, may reduce energy consumption, contributes to the economy through the creation of green collar jobs, may help save money through waste diversion and produces fewer air emissions. Recycling also helps divert landfill material.
About Pratt Industries
At Pratt Industries, we understand that recycling makes a difference, not only to our environment, but to the communities where we live and work. We recognize that each community’s needs and goals are unique, so we offer residential recycling solutions designed to support the waste-stream management initiatives of your community.
Pratt Industries’ signature Close-the-Loop process gives old products new life through our fully integrated supply chain. Pratt operates an extensive recycling company to supply our five state-of-the-art paper mills with recovered fiber. Our mills then supply our corrugators and sheet plants with 100% recycled containerboard which is used to create custom, sustainable packaging and display solutions for our customers. This integrated supply chain, consisting of material recovery facilities, paper mills, corrugators and sheet plants, helps us to pass cost savings on to our customers as well as to support their sustainability goals. To close the loop, Pratt Recycling partners with businesses and communities to recover used corrugated boxes and paper products to start the process all over again.
Pratt Industries’ production of 100% recycled containerboard along with a continued commitment to product optimization and innovation gives our customers both sustainable and operational benefits. Learn more at PrattIndustries.com.