Pennsylvania DEP Reminds Residents to Do Their Part on Recycling Awareness Day

Acting Secretary Abruzzo Speaks at Unveiling of New Recycling Exhibit

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection is reminding residents that today, Friday, Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day.

On Thursday, during The State Museum's unveiling of Recycling Works! – an exhibit sponsored by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC) – Acting DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo stressed the importance of recycling as a small way that we can all make a big environmental impact.

"Every year, more than 12 million Pennsylvanians recycle six million tons of materials that would have otherwise been landfilled or incinerated. I encourage everyone to take the next step to close the recycling loop by searching out and purchasing products made from recycled materials," Abruzzo said.

On Recycling Awareness Day, and every day, DEP encourages citizens to:

• Purchase products made with recycled content
• Recycle plastic and glass containers, cans and cartons
• Compost lawn clippings and other yard waste
• Recycle cardboard boxes, newspaper and other household paper
• Take household hazardous waste such as paint, batteries and antifreeze to a municipal collection events
• Recycle unwanted electronic devices

Statewide recycling in Pennsylvania began in 1988 with the Municipal Waste Planning Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, which requires larger municipalities to recycle. Today, at least 94 percent of Pennsylvanians have access to recycling.

Recycling is a significant part of Pennsylvania's economy. There are more than 3,800 recycling and reuse businesses that employ more than 52,300 people in the state. The annual payroll for those positions amounts to $2.2 billion. The recycling business generates $20.6 billion in annual sales receipts in Pennsylvania.

RMC is a nonprofit organization that develops and expands the use of recycled materials and recycled content product markets in Pennsylvania. Its exhibit will be on display at the museum through early January 2014. The exhibit showcases Pennsylvania's economic development achievements through recycling, includes Pennsylvania-manufactured recycled-content products and much more.

America Recycles Day is a national program of Keep America Beautiful. Since its inception in 1997, communities across the country have participated in America Recycles Day on Nov. 15 to educate, promote environmental citizenship and encourage action.

For more information about the exhibit, visit www.parmc.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

For more information about recycling in Pennsylvania, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Recycling.

Media contact: Amanda Witman, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection