Let's Reimagine Recycling

Recycling is one of those things we all need to do. Sometimes, it requires a little extra effort, but it’s worth it. According to a 2012 Ad Council survey, only 34.5 percent of the 251 million tons of trash Americans generated that year was recycled or composted. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds of our individual waste generation of 4.38 pounds per person per day. Although survey feedback showed that people want to recycle, 62 percent of Americans admitted that they weren’t avid recyclers.
“I Want to Be Recycled” explains how and where to recycle, showcases recycled items’ journeys to becoming something new, and provides helpful tips to make recycling easier.

Typical bathroom products like shampoo bottles, toilet paper rolls and toothpaste boxes are significantly less likely to be recycled than kitchen products. According to new research commissioned by the Ad Council, only 10 percent of Americans have a recycling bin in their bathroom, compared to the 45 percent who have recycling bins in the kitchen.
47% of survey respondents had not thought about recycling materials in the bathroom, and 52% said they didn’t know which items could be recycled. Although I’m passionate about recycling, I’ll admit that I’ve forgotten to recycle products in the bathroom—partly because I didn’t have a recycling bin in my bathroom and partly because I wasn’t sure what could be recycled.

Do you have recycling questions? If so, please join me on the #BeRecycledChat on 5/15 at 1pm ET. Recycling experts will be available to discuss recycling in the bathroom and to share ideas about how to go green.