Blue Springs, Mo. – The Blue Springs Solid Waste Management Commission is challenging residents to increase their paper recycling between November 2 and November 16 in celebration of America Recycles Day. America Recycles Day is a national initiative by Keep America Beautiful that has been held yearly since 1997 on November 15. America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States.
The goal for the two-week challenge is to recycle 2,800 pounds of cardboard and 4,200 pounds of paper, or a total of 3.5 tons. Items like junk mail, paper bags, school papers, newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes, macaroni boxes and cardboard boxes will be collected at the Pink Hill Park Recycling Center. The Pink Hill Park Recycling Center is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Recycling just one ton of paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and if the recycling challenge goal is met, approximately 11.5 cubic yards of landfill space will be saved. Using recycled materials versus virgin materials can save up to 65 percent in energy costs. In 2010, paper processing was an $8.9 billion industry in the United States.
“We hope that the challenge will not only encourage new recyclers in the community but also remind long-time recyclers to do more,” said Alice Fuerst, Solid Waste Management Commission Chair. “We encourage families to have their own ‘clean out your files day’ with this challenge. You may be surprised at all the extra paper you have been hanging onto!”
The idea of recycling can be overwhelming to people, but it does not need to be difficult. Start simple. During the month of November, save all the paper your household generates. If you start with just the paper, you will be amazed how much reusable material you have been sending to the landfill instead of having it made into new paper products.
City employees are participating in the challenge as well by collecting paper and cardboard products at City facilities to be taken to the drop-off center to be recycled.
The Blue Springs Paper Recycling Challenge is being conducted in coordination with the Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste District 2011 Recycling Challenge for local governments.
For more information contact Lauren Gowdy in the Community Development Department at 816-220-4504 or visit the City’s website at www.bluespringgov.com/recycling to learn more about the community recycling center.
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