Keep PA Beautiful: America Recycles Day Nov. 15, Don’t Trash Our Recycling Drop-Offs

How will you celebrate America Recycles Day? America Recycles Day, a Keep America Beautiful initiative, takes place annually on and around November 15 to recognize the benefits of recycling while providing an educational platform that helps raise awareness about the value of reducing, reusing and recycling – every day – throughout the year.

This year Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful wants to encourage Pennsylvania's to recycle right and not trash our recycling drop-offs thereby making our local recycling drop-off collection programs more sustainable.

Surveillance support cameras on loan from Keep PA Beautiful's Surveillance Camera Loan Program have recently aided in the prosecution of 18 individuals dumping furniture, electronics and household waste at a self-serve recycling drop-off center in Wesleyville Borough, Erie County.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. When individuals deposit electronics, household waste and furniture at recycling drop-off facilities they are technically stealing service.

To cover the fixed cost of services, honest citizens end up paying more per home for waste and recycling collection to subsidize the loss of revenue. Additionally, countless recycling drop-off locations across the state have closed as a result of this illegal dumping.

“In addition to more public education about where to take materials, ensuring that all residents have access to affordable, convenient waste disposal and recycling options will help alleviate the financial burden to residents and local governments who foot the bill for properly disposing items that are dumped illegally,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Whether that means expanding curbside collections; developing staffed, convenient drop-off facilities; or providing for collection of bulky items and appliances at curbside or at convenient drop-off facilities, our waste needs to be managed differently.”

For county by county listing of recycling and disposal options for electronics and other recycling related resources, visit DEP’s Recycling and Disposal webpage.

Enter “I Will Recycle” Sweepstakes

During America Recycles Day 2015, individuals are encouraged to take the “I Will Recycle” Pledge.  From now through November 20, the America Recycles Day “I Will Recycle” Sweepstakes will provide four people the chance to win an Apple Certified Refurbished iPad mini 3.

For more information about registering your event or taking the I Will Recycle pledge, visit the America Recycles Day website.

Related Story:

Help Celebrate America Recycles Day Nov. 15

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