I hope you're prepared to recycle because November 15 is National Recycling Day, and we're making certain that nothing goes to waste. According to National Geographic, Americans generate sixty-four tonnes of rubbish in their lifetimes. That equates to 246 million tonnes of garbage per year. The goal of National Recycling Day is to encourage Americans to buy recycled items and recycle more. But should this day be designated just to one nation? It is after all the responsibility of every earthling to play their role in conserving and preserving the home we all live in, isn't it?
So, what is recycling, anyways? Recycling
is the collection and processing of items that would otherwise be discarded as
waste in order to create new products. Did you know that we can recycle metal,
plastic, glass, paper, water, and even human waste?
Recycling minimises the quantity
of garbage sent to landfills and incinerators and aids in the conservation of
natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals, requiring less virgin
material to be harvested, processed, manufactured, and transported to generate
new commodities.
The theme of Global Recycling Day in 2021 is "Recycling Heroes." Its primary goal is to recognise the individuals, places and activities that demonstrate the value of recycling in the preservation of natural resources. Every year, recycling helps to reduce carbon emissions by about 700 million tonnes.
Why is Recycling Day important? The first Global Recycling Day is a critical new occasion in our global calendar. “To effectively harness the power of recycling, we must take a global approach to its collection, processing, and use, and this day recognises the industry's and the issue's global aspect," stated BIR President Ranjit Baxi.
What exactly is the purpose of
National Recycling Week? National Recycling Week provides an important platform
for individuals, organisations, schools, and authorities to increase their
recycling knowledge, establish better recycling habits, and create trust in
recycling.
The Global Recycling Foundation established Global Recycling Day in 2018 to highlight the importance of recycling and the necessity for a collaborative, multi-pronged approach. It also encourages people to recognise the worth of resources and recycled goods, as well as how each of us can avoid waste in the first place.
Remember! Recycling helps, but it
won’t solve our environmental problems alone. So let's get started to be less
wasteful, get creative and give everyday things a second life, and turn old
materials into new ones by using the 3Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The critical mission of
conserving, protecting, and caring for our planet is tremendous, but we can all
contribute! National Recycling Day is an excellent opportunity to learn how to
minimise pollution, fight climate change, and get involved in activities that
have a local and worldwide impact.
Words by: MAHSA Communication Department