EPA commemorates 14th annual America Recycles Day, estimates that Americans generated 250 million tons of municipal waste in 2010

WASHINGTON DC, Nov. 15, 2011 (Press Release) - Today, November 15^th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commemorates the 14th annual America Recycles Day by recognizing the progress made in recycling our country's waste and the work yet to be done. EPA estimates that Americans generated 250 million tons of municipal waste in 2010, of which approximately 34 percent was recycled or composted. While this represents progress, it also shows that there is great opportunity for our nation to better manage natural resources that are too often disposed of in landfills. Recycling and other sustainable management practices protect our environment and strengthen our economy.

"Conserving our natural resources is a critical part of ensuring a strong economic and environmental future," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "A sustainable approach to managing materials will maximize the use, reuse and recycling of valuable resources, providing both environmental and economic benefits."

The U.S. disposes enough trash each day to fill 50,000 garbage trucks with 18,000 pounds of trash in each. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, the U.S. can put resources back into productive use, rather than disposing of them. Recycling just one cell phone saves enough energy to power a laptop for 44 hours. Recycling is not the only avenue, adopting sustainable materials management practices can also help minimize waste and help our country conserve energy.

Sustainable materials management examines the life cycle of materials and products to identify opportunities to consume fewer natural resources, decrease the waste going to landfills, and create economic opportunities. There are a wide variety of sustainable materials management practices, including designing products that use fewer toxic constituents, reusing products, composting organic materials and recycling.

EPA and other federal agencies are not only encouraging Americans to adopt sustainable materials management practices, the federal government is leading by example. In July, a federal task force led by EPA, CEQ and GSA released a National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship - a strategy for the responsible electronic design, purchasing, management and recycling that will promote the burgeoning electronics recycling market and jobs of the future here at home. Additionally, through the Federal Green Challenge, EPA has challenged other federal agencies to reduce their own environmental impact through more sustainable practices by pledging a reduction goal of at least 5 percent per year in two of six focus areas: waste, electronics, purchasing, energy, water and transportation.

This America Recycles Day take the opportunity to learn more about how you can help protect the environment and conserve natural resources.