Buy Recycled Plastics to Celebrate America Recycles Day

While it may sound counterintuitive to go shopping to help celebrate America Recycles Day, the right kind of “retail therapy” may be just what the planet needs.

How? Buying products made from recycled materials is one way we can help “close the loop” or complete the recycling circle to help reduce waste across the globe.

By not only separating cans, bottles and other items for recycling, but also purposefully looking for consumer products made from recycled materials, we can help make a difference on America Recycles Day… and every day of the year!

For example, plastic containers, bags and film are collected in many communities across the country and then given a second life as carpeting, furniture, backyard decking, new bottles and bags and other products we use every day. Some of us may even be wearing these recycled plastics!

Did you Know?

• More than 2.4 billion pounds of plastic bottles were recycled in 2008.
• Of the 832 million pounds of bags and film recycled in 2008, more than 300 million pounds were used to make durable plastic/wood composite decking products for our backyards.
• The newest trend in fashion is recycled plastic! From runway couture to everyday T-shirts, fashion designers are finding innovative ways to create new designs made from recycled plastic bottles.
• International soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho will take to the field in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa each wearing a jersey made from about eight recycled plastic bottles.
• There are even men’s suits made from recycled plastics – the EcoGir Recycled Suit uses material made from 30 plastic water bottles.
• Freshly minted graduates are striding across the stage this year in caps and gowns made from recycled plastic bottles thanks to GreenWeaver , a new line of academic apparel that uses fabric spun from 100 percent post-consumer plastics.