I’m happy to share some great news to kick-off America Recycles Day today. The recycling bins we’ve placed in key spots along California’s coastline are on track to divert over 90,000 lbs (or 45 tons) of plastic from the waste stream this year and over 105 tons of other materials.
These numbers show that our work with partners throughout the State is helping to keep plastics out of the natural environment and getting them into recycling bins where they belong. Many everyday plastics can be recycled in California. By placing recycle bins where more people can use them, we and our partners are helping to preserve the environment for future generations.

Together, we’ve partnered with Adopt-A-Beach (AAB), Keep California Beautiful, California State Parks, Caltrans, and the City of Woodland to place nearly 700 recycle bins throughout the state.

Beyond our bin program, we are working to create lasting change by helping to educate California youth about recycling and the environment. The Go H2O! Challenge, a program that encourages students in the LA’s BEST after school program to use reusable, recyclable plastic water bottles to help them drink more water, and Recycle.Goal., a program that encourages youth soccer teams to recycle are making a difference. In its pilot season, just completed, Recycle.Goal. teams collected and recycled 1,695 pounds of plastic and 3,156 pounds of material overall, an average of 81 pounds per team. The winning team, comprising girls ten and under from the Alliance FC (San Bernardino), recycled 197 pounds of plastic and 425 pounds of material overall.

America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle. The purpose of America Recycles Day is to promote the social, environmental, and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement to protect the environment for future generations. Tell me how you celebrate the day in the comments section below!