Joplin Recycling Center to celebrate America Recycles Day

(From the City of Joplin)

The Joplin Recycling Center will join thousands of local organizers holding recycling events across the country to celebrate America Recycles Day, a national initiative by Keep America Beautiful. America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Joplin’s event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 13, at the Joplin Recycling Center, 1310 West A Street. Recycling patrons can choose a welded-wire compost bin with instructional brochure, a plastic bottle bird feeder with feed, or a commemorative mug filled with candy---all while supply lasts.

Mary Anne Phillips, Joplin Recycling Coordinator said, “Staff will be available to explain the bins and feeders, or answer any trash and recycling questions.”

This year's theme, "Bathrooms, Bags and Gadgets," is meant to shine a light on some of the "not top of mind" everyday recyclable items such as shampoo and mouthwash bottles, plastic bags and consumer electronics. You can be part of the solution by being more mindful of how to properly recycle the products you use, in your home and elsewhere.

Americans can commit to recycle more and take the “I Will Recycle” pledge at americarecyclesday.org/pledge. You may select a specific item that you’re especially interested in recycling and pledge to recycle more of that item in the future.

After pledging to recycle, demonstrate your recycling spirit to friends and other committed recyclers. Post a photo of yourself holding a recyclable product that you pledged to recycle. Use the hashtag #IWillRecycle on Instagram and Twitter for a chance to be randomly selected to win a prize from Keep America Beautiful.

GIVE YOUR “GARBAGE” ANOTHER LIFE: SUPPORTING FACTS - When material is recycled, it becomes something new and valuable.

Plastic

• A plastic bottle can be recycled into new containers, t-shirts and fleeces, park benches, plastic lumber, and playground equipment.

• Plastic bags are recycled into fences, decks, and shopping carts.

Aluminum

• A can made of aluminum can go from the recycling bin to the store shelf as a new can in as few as 60 days.

Electronics

• More than 4.4 million tons of electronic equipment in the U.S. are recycled each year.

• One metric ton of electronic scrap from personal computers contains more gold than that recovered from 17 tons of gold ore.

Paper

• The 60 percent of paper recycled in the U.S. is made into products like cereal boxes, tissues, and file folders.

Steel

• Products such as structural sections and bridge spans use virtually 100 percent recycled steel.

Recycling is a multi-billion dollar industry that employs millions of Americans and helps advance our clean energy economy.

The average American generates 4.4 pounds per person, per day and 1.51 pounds per day of that was recycled or composted. Collectively in the United States, we produced 254 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2013, and recycled and composted 34.3 percent of that total. [EPA]

The Joplin Recycling Center accepts all traditional recyclables, as well as cooking oil, household hazardous waste, and electronics; provides free packing materials and moving boxes; and a document destruction shredder is available on a self-serve basis.

For more information about recycling in the Joplin area, visit www.joplinmo.org and click on Recycling Guide or contact Mary Anne Phillips at 417-624-0820 ext. 501, or e-mail at MPhillip@joplinmo.org