America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day® (ARD), a Keep America Beautiful® national initiative, is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States.

Each year, on and in the weeks leading into November 15, thousands of communities across the country participate by promoting environmental citizenship and taking action to increase and improve recycling in America.

We're celebrating a day early with our partners at Philadelphia International Airport. We'll be in Terminal B on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 10a-1:30p along with the Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia SWEEP officers, upcycling visual artists, and the City of Philadelphia Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet.

The event is an environmental information fair reaching several hundred Philadelphia residents and airport travelers. Fifty (50) lucky Philadelphia residents will receive a free recycling bin.

We'll be giving away reusable tote bags in an effort to reduce the use of plastic bags. Did you know plastic bags are one of the most widely distributed and frequently littered items in the modern economy? Last year, more than 900 million plastic bags were distributed in Philadelphia. The Water Department found that plastic bags comprise 17% of all floatables found in Philadelphia’s waterways. Additionally, the city’s recycling plant reports that plastic bags cause multiple plant shutdowns every day. At SEPTA, plastic bags clog trash receptacles, blow on to track areas and right-aways, and cause delays when caught in overhead wires.   

A trip to the airport not part of your plan? Stop by Suburban Station between noon and 2p. Our Customer Service team will be onsite conducting a brief survey. Take the survey - get a SEPTA tote!

The national recycling rate has increased over the past 30 years. The current recycling rate is 34%. But we can do more. Commit to recycling by taking the #BeRecycled Pledge. Let us know what you plan to recycle more of in the comments below. Need some inspiration? Check out this Earth Day blog post.