Community Outreach Programs Can Help Educate People To Recycle More
Americans recycled a record 2.5 billion pounds of plastic bottles in 2009, up by 46 million pounds from the previous year, although rates for individual plastics have been slow to recover from the recession, according to an annual report by the American Chemistry Council and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers.
Americans have increased the amount of plastic bottles they have recycled every year the report was first issued in 1990, representing a compounded annual growth rate of 9.4 %
However this study also shows that Americans are still confused with what types of plastics they are able to recycle, especially when it comes to HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). Communities, recyclers and other enitites need to do a better job of education and outreach to let peope know just what can be recycled– and where to take things if need be.
Some communities use jar openers made from recycled tires at events where they list such information. Others have done direct mail campaigns
