America Recycles Day: 45 Tons and Growing

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of America Recycles Day, the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council (ACC)announced today that the recycling bins they've placed in key spots along California's coastline are on track to divert over 90,000 lbs (or 45 tons) of plastic from the waste stream this year and over 105 tons of other materials.

"These numbers show that our work with partners throughout the State is helping to keep plastics out of the natural environment and getting them into recycling bins where they belong," said Steve Russell, vice president, plastics, for the American Chemistry Council. "Many everyday plastics can be recycled in California. By placing recycle bins where more people can use them, we and our partners are helping to preserve the environment for future generations. We're thrilled with the results."

The Plastics. Too Valuable To Waste. Recycle.(SM) campaign has contracted with Adopt-A-Beach (AAB) and partnered with Keep California Beautiful, California State Parks, Caltrans and the City of Woodland to place nearly 700 recycle bins throughout the state.

"We've been partnering with the American Chemistry Council for a number of years and to finally see, in pounds, the impact we're making is very exciting," said Keep California Beautiful executive director Christine Flowers. "Results like these re-affirm how valuable public-private partnerships are."

In addition to its "bins on beaches" program – so called because the first bins were placed on beaches – ACC has initiated a number of creative programs to educate California youth about recycling and the environment, including Go H2O!, a program that encourages students in the LA's BEST after school program to use reusable, recyclable plastic water bottles to help them drink more water, and Recycle.Goal., a program that encourages youth soccer teams to recycle. In its pilot season, just completed, Recycle.Goal. participants collected and recycled 1,695 pounds of plastic and 3,156 pounds of material overall, an average of 81 pounds per team. The winning team, comprising girls ten and under from the Alliance FC (San Bernardino), recycled 197 pounds of plastic and 425 pounds of material overall.

America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle. The purpose of America Recycles Day is to promote the social, environmental, and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement to protect the environment for future generations.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $674 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

The Plastics. Too Valuable to Waste. Recycle.(SM) campaign is a successful public-private partnership involving ACC, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the nonprofit Keep California Beautiful and Caltrans. Through their efforts, these organizations have placed nearly 700 seasonal and permanent recycling bins at more than 30 locations in the San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz areas. For more information, visit the Web site at www.2valuable2waste.com.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council