Industry Celebrates Achievements on America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day is November 15.

The waste and recycling industry is celebrating the partnerships and achievements that demonstrate innovation and collaboration for a greener planet. Environmental advocates are using the day to call on lawmakers for better protections. 

Ripple Glass, Owens Corning Partner on Recycled Glass in Georgia

Ripple Glass, a company of Strategic Materials, Inc., North America's largest glass recycler, is collaborating with building materials leader Owens Corning in recognition of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, 2023. Ripple Glass will host glass recycling events, swag giveaways and a social media campaign to support the collection program, with bins in their bold purple color. With the mantra "Give Glass a Second Life™", Ripple Glass launched their expansion in Atlanta earlier this year and collects more than 1.6 million pounds of glass each week nationwide. Owens Corning was the inventor of fiberglass in 1938 and uses recycled glass and other natural ingredients in its PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ insulation batts and rolls. They also feature a variety of insulation products for every application, from attic to basement, and a full line of roofing products at home centers nationwide.

The market for recycled glass in Georgia is uniquely positioned with strong demand from several leading fiberglass insulation companies operating in the state. The use of recycled glass in the production of new fiberglass insulation offsets the need for virgin, mined material such as sand. Recycled glass also melts at a lower temperature resulting in more responsible manufacturing by lowering energy usage and reducing CO2 emissions. Georgia residents can recycle a glass bottle with the Ripple Glass program and it'll be back on a local shelf as an insulation in less than 30 days. Six glass bottles are able to generate enough fiberglass insulation for one standard wall cavity.

From a sustainability standpoint, PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ insulation uses more than 1 billion pounds of glass recycled each year¹ with the highest recycled content in the industry.

Letter Urges EPA to Update Landfill Rules

The Biden Administration can address unchecked methane emissions from the nation’s landfills and make progress towards its environmental justice and global emissions reduction commitments by strengthening landfill methane emissions rules, according to a letter sent by 60 organizations from across the country to President Joe Biden and EPA Administrator Michael Regan today. The letter urges the United States to announce plans to update EPA’s landfill rules when world leaders meet at COP28 later this month. 

"In Maryland, teens have been fighting for smarter school food waste management practices for the past five years,” says Advika Agarwal, Cofounder of Compostology Corp. “When the EPA releases actions about landfill emissions standards as a priority, local governments and institutions will be more likely to invest in solutions to prevent emissions in the first place. America Recycles Day is about celebrating progress, but also pushing for bigger, bolder climate solutions that benefit all of us. Today, we call on other youth like us to urge change surrounding our use of landfills.”

Recycling is Real

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) released the following statement celebrating America Recycles Day, the official national observance dedicated to promoting recycling across the United States:

“For the plastics industry, every day is America Recycles Day,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “Our industry is dedicated to recycling which is why we work tirelessly to improve recyclability and invest billions of dollars into new technologies to recycle.

“Recycling is real, and the plastics industry is proud to be a part of the solution, but we need to do more. We need partners at all levels, including government, the private sector and communities working together to recycle even more valuable materials every day,” concluded Seaholm.

Recently, PLASTICS launched an advocacy campaign, Recycling is Real, dedicated to promoting and defending plastic recycling in America. The campaign provides content to help elected officials and policymakers understand that recycling is a vital link of the sustainability and circularity chain, enabling them to make more well-informed decisions about recycling resources for their constituents.

SWACO Opens Recycling Centers

SWACO and the City of Columbus celebrated America Recycles Day with the opening of two new convenience centers for recycling. The centers will aid the public in the recovery of recyclables and other hard-to-recycle materials such as clothing, batteries, electronics and food waste. 

The drive-up, self-service centers provide a convenient and accessible location for central Ohio residents to recycle a wide range of materials, mostly free of charge. They are the first of their kind in Franklin County. 

“By providing a comprehensive range of recycling options and promoting responsible waste management practices, these centers will contribute to an increase in the diversion of recyclable materials from the region’s landfill,” said Joe Lombardi, SWACO’s Executive Director. 

Currently, 76% of all landfilled items in Franklin County have the potential to be diverted. 

Cotton International Reminds Consumers About Textile Recycling

America Recycles Day on Nov. 15 reminds Americans the importance of promoting recycling, and Cotton Incorporated celebrates year-round by giving old denim a new purpose and circular life while keeping them out of landfills. Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ denim recycling program closes the loop on textile waste by reusing denim made from cotton and recycling well-loved pieces. Since the program’s inception in 2006, over 2,290 tons of denim have been diverted from landfills. 

America Recycles Day is a Keep America Beautiful initiative that educates and encourages individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume. Cotton Incorporated reminds consumers that textiles are recyclable, too. A sustainable wardrobe starts by always checking the label to understand what clothes are made of. If denim is made of at least 90% cotton, users can recycle it through Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ program. 

“The Blue Jeans Go Green program™ does good for the Earth by avoiding the landfill and creating new possibilities for communities through their purpose,” Andrea Samber, director of brand partnerships for Cotton Incorporated, said