Recycling is something to celebrate! Every year on November 15th, we can celebrate the importance and impact of recycling, and examine our efforts to see if we can do more. According to epa.gov the recycling rate has increased from less than seven percent in 1960 to the current rate of 32 percent. A huge leap, yes, but I think we can grow that number even more!
The EPA encourages all to recycle, but of equal importance, to make sure you're recycling correctly. For example, batteries and electronics do NOT go in your local recycling pick up bin. The consequences for recycling these items incorrectly is vast. This type of pollution is called e-waste. The United States generated 6.92 million tons of e-waste, about 46 pounds per person, in 2019. It recycled only 15% of the material. The value of the raw materials contained in the e-waste produced in the U.S. during 2019 was $7.49 billion. That’s right, billions of dollars worth of materials thrown away that could be used again.
The 911 CPB makes it easy for you to recycle these items. Just go to: https://www.911cellphonebank.org/donate-2/ the process is simple and at no cost to you!
Of course, recycling should be a daily effort, but we can take advantage of this annual holiday and reflect on what we are currently doing to improve our
environment. Keep up the great work recycling your paper, glass, plastic, etc. but remember when it comes to recycling electronics, a different method is required. If we don't dispose of these items correctly, we are not improving our planet; our home. We're in this together!
Contact us to donate smartphones, tablets. iPads or other electronics: requests@911cellphonebank.org
Checkout more e-waste stats here: https://earth911.com/eco-tech/20-e-waste-facts/