Separating aluminum cans, plastic bottles, newspapers and other materials and placing them into designated recycling bins is becoming more of the norm than ever before. This is due in large part to America Recycles Day, celebrated nationally on November 15 since 1997.
Businesses, industries, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals nationwide have joined together to focus attention on the importance of recycling, reusing recycled materials and buying recycled products.
November 15 offers a reminder for Hoosiers to consider the merits of recycling, and IDEM's Web site provides a great place to begin; it has an interactive recycling map to help Hoosiers pinpoint where recycling programs exist. The Indiana Recycling Locations searchable database located at www.IN.gov/recycle/5636.htm provides information on local composting and yard waste programs, as well as local household hazardous waste collection programs.
Hoosiers can jumpstart America Recycles Day by following some simple tips for recycling everyday items, including:
. Paper - in addition to saving 17 trees, recycling one ton of paper will save 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water. This represents a 64 percent energy savings, 58 percent water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution. Those same trees can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.
. Aluminum cans -Americans throw out enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial airline fleet. Recycling just one can will save enough energy to run a television for two hours.
. Glass bottles -- it would take approximately one million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill. Recycling that glass bottle would save enough energy to run your television for 20 minutes or to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
. Steel -- next time you have a bowl of soup or paint your home, recycle the empty steel cans. In one year, recycling steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18 million homes.
Check locally for information about waste management and recycling services. Contact your local solid waste district or, in Marion County, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. For a county listing and the "Where to Recycle" database, visit IDEM's Web site at www.IN.gov/recycle/5636.htm.
For more information about America Recycles Day, visit http://www.americarecyclesday.org/.
About IDEM
IDEM (http://www.idem.in.gov/) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids business and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.
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