Global Recycling Day

As planet Earth gives up billions of tons of its natural resources each year to support the humans who live on it, the health of the planet continues to decline. This makes it more and more important for humans to do what they can and focus on ways that it is possible to reduce waste, reuse items and restore the health of the planet.

One vital way of taking care of the environment and the planet is through the practice of recycling!

Global Recycling Day is here to remind individuals, organizations, corporations and governments that recycling is a key part of the circular economy of humans on the planet. The day is meant to draw attention to and recognize the important part that recycling plays in preserving primary resources. In addition, Global Recycling Day is meant to motivate people into taking action as they seek to help repair and restore global resources.

How to Celebrate Global Recycling Day

It is more than past time for humans everywhere to band together and make an impact when they do their part by celebrating and observing Global Recycling Day – all over the world! Get involved by participating with some of these ideas:

Join a Global Recycling Day Event

Each year on Global Recycling Day, communities and cities are coming together to join forces and save the planet! Check with the local city or town government to see what types of events and recycling drives are being organized for this year’s celebration.

Check out the website for the day to get more information about various activities, events, and resources that are in the local area.

Finding no such events in the local community? Well, perhaps it’s time to organize one. Contact local representatives and officials to determine what the status of the day is in the community, then partner with other charitable organizations, schools, churches and more to make a big difference in the way folks make an effort to recycle – not just on Global Recycling Day, but each day on the calendar.

Don’t Forget to Reuse

Before throwing something in the trash or even in the recycling bin, first think of ways the item could be reused. Perhaps it would be a good idea to wash out a plastic carrier bag or a zipper closure bag and use it a few more times. Or maybe it would be possible to use those plastic containers from the grocery store in the kids’ lunch boxes. And also try using that piece of aluminum foil again. Anything that can be used just two times essentially cuts the waste of that product in half!

On Global Recycling Day – and every day – get creative with ways to reduce consumption and waste by reusing. And then, of course, once the item has gone through a full life, it’s time to recycle.

Set Up a Recycling Program at Work or at School

Some people in certain environments may have noticed that their school, workplace or government building doesn’t recycle, but they may never have bothered to ask why. Well, Global Recycling Day is the perfect time to pose some questions!

Why aren’t there easily accessible recycling bins in the school cafeteria or near the vending machines at work? Why doesn’t the copy room have a bin dedicated to paper recycling – or even one in each classroom?

This is the time to get motivated! Stand up for the environment and ask questions that will help to shed light on the places where there are no opportunities for recycling. And then seek to tear down the barriers so it’s possible to make a difference not only in the local community, but for the entire planet. Whether this means contacting a company to arrange for bins and pickup or creating a community page online that brings support and light to the issues, it’s time to get started!

History of Global Recycling Day

A fairly new day on the docket, Global Recycling Day was first announced in 2015 when the president of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Ranjit S. Baxi, made a point to bring it to the attention of the World Recycling Convention that same year.

The first celebration of Global Recycling Day was not implemented until a few years later, though, in 2018. The date, March 18, was set to coincide with the 70th birthday of the Bureau of International Recycling.

This day is also supported in collaboration with the Global Recycling Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the industry of recycling around the world, showcasing the vital role of this practice to preserve the future of planet Earth.

A common, unified approach is the way forward to solving this problem, and one way the day helps is by honoring the “recycling heroes” from the previous year. Plus, the idea of thinking about “resources” instead of “waste” is an excellent way to move in the right direction when it comes to the issue of recycling – offering items the true value and re-purpose that they deserve.

Now, every year Global Recycling Day is celebrated to not only remind individuals to reduce waste, but also to activate voices and speak up against governments and corporations who aren’t doing their part.

It’s time to join in on the celebration of Global Recycling Day!