RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed today America Recycles Day in the state to promote the importance of recycling and recognize the conscientious habits of North Carolinians that improve our quality of life and support a clean, economically vibrant and sustainable environment.
“For many North Carolinians, recycling is a way of life,” said DEQ Secretary Michael Regan. “By putting the right items in the recycling bin, we can all conserve our natural resources for future generations while we support the thriving recycling industry that employs more than 16,000 people in our state.”
More than 11 million tons of waste is produced each year; however, North Carolinians recycle 1.6 million tons of material annually in local recycling programs. Through daily actions, residents reduce waste, compost, reuse products, donate unwanted items to charity or purchase goods made with recycled products. Residents can follow the steps below to recycle more efficiently and prevent contamination of the recycling bin:
- When in doubt, throw it out!
- Do not put plastic bags, cords, hoses and other string-like items in the recycle bin as they can tangle around rotating equipment.
- Do not bag your recyclable items.
- Visit your local community’s website to know what goes in the recycling bin.
- Recycle only the items on your local recyclables list.
Recycling prevents pollution, saves energy and resources, and stimulates local economies. Many North Carolina manufacturers that have committed to operating zero-waste-to-landfill facilities, setting new standards for sustainable manufacturing and embracing recycling as a smart business decision.
Many communities in North Carolina are also celebrating America Recycles Day with special collection events, educational workshops and community events. Check with local recycling office for events, or visit the America Recycles Day website at: https://americarecyclesday.
North Carolina’s Recycling Program in DEQ’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service helps create a robust recycling infrastructure as well as advises businesses and local governments on managing a successful recycling program. The division provides grants and technical assistance to recycling businesses and local governments that help build North Carolina’s recycling economy. This fall, the state Recycling Program helped 224 local governments and municipalities encourage better recycling habits through its Recycle Right NC campaign. Outreach materials can be found online at: https://deq.nc.gov/
The governor’s proclamation can be found at: https://files.nc.gov/governor/
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