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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosted the second annual EPA Recycling Summit today to honor America Recycles Day. The organization brought together leaders from green energy and recycling sectors, along with individuals from the highest levels of government, to continue the dialogue it commenced at the first summit last year.
The President is being impeached; the San Francisco 49ers lost their first game of the season this week; and PG&E cannot get their act together. The 24-hour news cycle buried America Recycles Day and rendered it back page news. In fact most people probably don’t even know it exists.
America Recycles Day started as Texas Recycles Day in 1994. Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis were employees at the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. They promoted six weeks of recycling across the state to boost awareness. The final day of the campaign was called Texas Recycles Day, on November 15, 1994.
Tuerff and Davis left their jobs with the state the following year and started a public relations firm that specializes in environmentally-conscious initiatives. They proposed to the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) that Texas Recycles Day should be America Recycles Day. The NRC accepted and promoted the first America Recycles Day for November 15, 1997.
Private sector companies, nonprofits and government have since made America Recycles Day an important part of the dialogue related to climate change and global warming. Vice President Al Gore was the honorary chairman of a press conference held at the White House for the first event. The Trump Administration released a statement this morning recognizing America Recycles Day.
"The United States continues to be a world leader in commerce while also setting the global standard in reducing waste," the statement says. "Through American ingenuity and innovation, we will continue to seek ways to harness our Nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and promote recycling activities that support economic growth and environmental protection."
Several organizations held events today and throughout the week to promote recycling. But there are still opportunities for you to participate in a Bay Area event in the coming days.
The Mount Diablo Recovery Center in Concord is holding an event tomorrow. Anyone can drop off e-waste for recycling (old smartphones, computers, fax machines, etc.). The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 16. The City of Napa is holding the Napa Recycles event tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring all your unwanted Halloween costumes, coats, shoes and other clothing items for recycling and/or redistribution. The University of California San Francisco is collecting "bulky items" like chairs and desks, on November 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There are two more recycling events on November 21. Valcore Recycling, Inc. is holding a confidential paper shredding event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 38 Sheridan Street. The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health is holding a hazardous waste training course for small businesses from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 1555 Berger Dr. Suite. 300.
America Recycles Day is an everyday event at Eco Office. All cardboard packaging for new furniture is prepped and sent to local recycling centers. We remove metal from products that are not in sellable condition and send it to scrap metal facilities that melt it down and re-use it for other applications. And of course, we take thousands of pounds of used furniture in the Bay Area, refurbish, and re-sell it as part of our regular operations.
Eco Office project managers are an environmentally-conscious team that exceeds our clients' expectations. Give us a call today at 408-437-1700.
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