Thanks for Visiting Our Booth at the NC State Fair!

By Kristen Aubut

Thanks to everyone who came to visit us at the Environmental Assistance and Outreach recycling booth in the GreenNC tent at the N.C. State Fair! We enjoyed hearing the recycling experiences of our booth visitors. We got some great questions about curbside recycling, the separation process of recyclable materials, accepted materials in your community and much more. We hope you learned a lot about waste reduction during our daily stage shows. We appreciate everyone who took the America Recycles Day pledge and our recycling survey. Check our Recycle Guys Flickr page or our RE3.org Flickr page to find the photo you had taken with Can Guy or the new RE3 avatar. We’ll see you next year at the N.C. State Fair! Keep reducing, reusing and recycling!

What are your plans for America Recycles Day?

The N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach along with Keep NC Beautiful will again promote America Recycles Day (ARD) throughout the state. America Recycles Day is held on November 15th of each year. Its goal is to bring attention to recycling and buying recycled.

Even though ARD is celebrated in November, local governments and organizations conduct recycling events and educational booths throughout October and November. NC DEAO will again promote the ARD on-line recycling pledge at the upcoming State Fair.

Please register your event and let us know what your local government plans to do to celebrate America Recycles Day. We will help you advertise your event and provide you with various resources from Keep America Beautiful such as pencils, buttons, magnets and posters.

For those that sign the on-line recycling pledge, they will be entered to win statewide prizes similar to those we had last year.

Kristen Aubut, a DEAO intern, will be heading our portion of the project. Please contact her at Kristen.aubut@ncdenr.gov with your ARD events and any questions you may have.

America Recycles Day 2009 Wrap-Up

Guest Blogger – Clare

America Recycles Day happens every year on November 15. In 2009, many North Carolina local governments and environmentally-conscious groups held events specifically for ARD or included a recycling message in their events held around this day. Close to 1,000 (925 to be exact) North Carolinians pledged online or at an ARD event to recycle or buy recycled content items. Geographically, the makeup of pledges looked like the pie chart.

Most pledges (64 percent) came from the Triangle area. Seeing as how DPPEA had a pledge station at our booth inside the Green NC tent at the state fair in Raleigh, this is not surprising. But, I was surprised that only four percent of pledges came from the Charlotte area.

DPPEA also awarded recycled content prizes to five randomly selected North Carolinians who pledged and included their e-mail address. Here are this year’s winners!
-Carol L., Raleigh- Fire Pit winner
-Marion M., Waxhaw- Fire Pit winner
-Taylor H., Wilmington- School and Office Prize Pack winner
-Deanna P., Raleigh- Pet Bed winner
-Byron K., Wilmington, Lawn and Garden winner

Thanks to all those who participated in ARD 2009. And it’s never too early to start planning for ARD 2010!

Partnering with City of Greenville and Curbside Value Partnership

We have been working with the city of Greenville and Curbside Value Partnership this fall to create some new and exciting material for our upcoming Recycle More NC campaign targeted toward the 35-55 year old demographic in hopes of increasing curbside recycling rates throughout N.C.

The city of Greenville kicked off its GreenERville campaign around America Recycles Day. It partnered with multiple retailers in town to talk with citizens about recycling. One partner, Best Buy, provided them optimal exposure near its front door. Best Buy is also providing can and bottle recycling collection for its customers.

So what do you think of the new GreenERville campaign?

America Recycles Day Events

Make sure to participate in a local America Recycles Day event this weekend and next. See below.

N.C. State ARD event
Friday, Nov. 13, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The N.C. State event at the Reynolds Coliseum Carriage features e-recycling, paper shredding/recycling, recycling games, a Prius display and more. Participants include Synergy Electronics, Silver Wings Student Group, University Dining, Shred-It and the City of Raleigh Recycling Office. Public welcome.

UNC – Chapel Hill ARD event
apreble@fac.unc.edu
Friday, Nov. 13, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Visit the Pit for opportunities to make video pledges, get your picture taken with Can Guy, learn about junk mail reduction and participate in our swap shop. There will also be information on greening events, composting and recycling on campus.

*Asheville Green Works ARD event
Saturday, Nov. 14 & Sunday, Nov. 15, noon – 4:00 p.m.
Bring your children to enjoy the art of making recycled craft projects during the River Arts District Studio Stroll (357 Depot Street, Asheville).

Edgecombe County E-Waste Drive
Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:00 a.m. - noon
Drive hosted by Edgecombe County Solid Waste and Wesbel Technologies. Bring old electronics, including computer monitors and TVs, for recycling at the Edgecombe County Landfill (1601 Colonial Road, Tarboro).

Fort Bragg ARD event
melinda.harrington@us.army.mil
Saturday, Nov. 14
Provide an education and outreach table at the North and South PX. Educate the military on where/how/what they can do to recycle plastic bottles and the QRP Incentives Program.

*New Hanover County Keep America Beautiful Recycling Booth
jeokeefe@nhcgov.com
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Participate in a recycling booth at Halyburton Park (4099 S. 17th Street, Wilmington).

Orange County Solid Waste Shred-A-Thon
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Shred-A-Thon to recycle confidential paper at the Hampton Pointe drop-off recycling site in Hillsborough, behind Home Depot. This event enables residents of Orange County to bring up to 10 boxes of confidential papers at no charge for shredding and recycling that day. Remove any diskettes or other plastic items or spiral binders.

Raleigh Shred & Recycle Event
Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00 a.m. - noon
Bring old documents for shredding and any other recyclables including household alkaline batteries to the Oak Park Shopping Center (6001 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh). Enjoy fun and games and learn about recycling and waste reduction in your community.

Stanly County ARD event
jessybrite@gmail.com
Saturday, Nov. 14
Bring recyclable materials such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard and glass to Stanly Community College (141 College Drive, Albemarle). Green Pieces Recycling will have recycling trucks on site for pick up. Free and open to all students and community members.

*Greenville and East Carolina University
Nov. 15-21, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
A recycle trailer will stop at different locations throughout the City of Greenville.
- Nov. 15 – Faith Assembly of God (Cory Road)
- Nov. 16 – Walmart (Greenville Blvd.)
- Nov. 17 – Best Buy (Greenville Blvd.)
- Nov. 18 – Greenville Mall (Greenville Blvd.)
- Nov. 19 – Apartment Complex (TBA)
- Nov. 20 – Freeboot Friday
- Nov. 21 – ECU Game

North Carolina Train Station Recycling Kick-Off
tdebrew@ncdot.gov or 919-733-7245 Ext.247
Sunday, Nov. 15 in Burlington, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, Selma
- Burlington Station (101 North Main Street, 336-570-7043)
o Hours: 8a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- High Point Station (100 W. High Avenue, 336-884-0878)
o Hours: 8a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Kannapolis Station (201 South Main Street, 704-932-1591)
o Hours: 8a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Salisbury Station (215 Depot Street, 704-639-7728)
o Hours 8a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 7:30p.m.
- Selma Station (500 East Railroad Street, 919-965-6971)
o Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

South East Raleigh's Going Green Celebration!
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The event will offer fun recycling-themed family activities, games and crafts, organizational booths with information on 'going green' as well as free cake and refreshments. The event will be held at the new Walnut Creek Wetland Park Facility (950 Peterson Street, Raleigh) across from Carnage Magnet Middle School in Raleigh.

*Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful Compost Bin Sale
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hal Marshall Service Center, 700 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte

Wake PTA 5k Run/Walk and Shred-A-Thon
Sunday, Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m.
Join the Wake PTA for its Healthy Lifestyles Run/Walk 5K event (N.C. State’s Centennial Campus, Raleigh) featuring a shred-a-thon sponsored by Shred-it. Bring any paper items to the race site and Shred-it will destroy and recycle them for free!

*= KAB Affiliate Event

America Recycles Day Update

We are partnering with Clear Channel Radio to give away eight recycled content metal fire pits on air. Two fire pits will be given to each market (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Asheville). Listen for these on-air promotions during the month of November.

We have purchased and will continue to seek more recycled content prizes for our America Recycles Day pledge winners. Remember, those that fill out this pledge will be registered to win prizes. Prize packs include children’s toys, pet beds, paper goods, office products, lawn and garden items, etc. Pictures of the prizes can be found here.

Do you have something to donate as a prize? Contact Clare Estes at Clare.Estes@ncdenr.gov.

America Recycles Day supplies arriving soon

America Recycles Day is your opportunity to promote recycling while helping to build markets for materials by purchasing goods made from recycled content. There are lots of ways to get involved – organize a collection event, host an educational event, encourage the purchase of recycled content products, etc.

N.C. DPPEA, CRA and N.C. KAB are partnering to bring you America Recycles 2009 for North Carolina. Is your local government or organization planning an event to celebrate America Recycles Day? Tell us about it here and we will make sure it gets up on our Web site and that you will receive any ARD posters, pencils or other goodies we receive.

DPPEA will again be coordinating an electronic commitment pledge/form for citizens to promise that they will recycle and buy recycled. Statewide recycled content prizes will be available to those that pledge. The pledge form link is here.

America Recycles Day 2009

Start planning now to participate in this exciting annual event! There are lots of ways you can get involved:

- Organize a recycling collection

- Host an education event

- Encourage purchase of recycled content products

- Have fun sharing information about recycling

America Recycles Day is your opportunity to promote recycling of paper/cardboard, plastic, aluminum/steel, electronics and more. Encourage your communities to reduce waste while helping to build markets for materials by purchasing goods made from recycled content.

N.C. DPPEA and CRA are once again partnering to bring you America Recycles 2009 for North Carolina. Is your local government or organization planning an event to celebrate America Recycles Day? Tell us about it here and we will make sure it gets up on our Web site. DPPEA will again be coordinating an electronic commitment pledge/form for citizens to promise that they will recycle and buy recycled. State-wide recycled content prizes will also be available.

America Recycles 2008 Wrap-Up

In 2008 we received more than 375 online pledges to recycle more and buy recycled products through the America Recycles Day campaign. At least 11 organizations held an ARD event. We distributed state-wide recycled content prizes to:
- Wilma in Mebane
- Julie in Raleigh
- Charliss in Chapel Hill
- Romelia in Asheville
- Cee Cee in Newton

What are you planning for America Recycles 2009?

Photo Blog 4 - America Recycles Day 2008 Wrap-Up

More than 375 North Carolinians pledged to recycle more and buy recycled products via America Recycles Day in November. RE3.org gave away multiple recycled content prize packs to Paul in Raleigh, Romelia in Asheville, Mary in Charlotte, Wilma in Mebane, Cee in Hickory and Charliss in Chapel Hill.

America Recycles Day 2008 – Final Update

Remember to pledge to increase your recycling efforts today via this Web site. You’ll also be registered to win some very cool recycled content prizes.

America Recycles Day 2008 - Update 4

ARD News Release that went out on 11/10/08

Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Release: Immediate Contact: Chris Frazier
Date: Nov. 10, 2008 Phone: (919) 715-6515

*_CELEBRATE AMERICA RECYCLES DAY THIS NOVEMBER_***

*RALEIGH** - *America Recycles Day events are being held throughout North Carolina this month to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and buying recycled products.

Each year, millions of people become better informed about the importance of recycling as a result of the national America Recycles Day campaign. The campaign encourages Americans to pledge to recycle more and buy recycled products. The campaign's slogan, /It All Comes Back To
You/, presents multiple messages. A recycled product can return to consumers as a new product, recycling comes back to consumers as an improved environment, and it is everyone's responsibility to recycle.

"North Carolinians dispose of approximately 11 million tons of waste in landfills each year, much of which can be recycled," said Kelley Dennings, education and outreach coordinator for the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. "We hope that this annual event reminds people to recycle at home, at work and while out and about."

This year, those that electronically fill out the America Recycles Day pledge, which can be found at http://www.p2pays.org/ARD.html, will be registered to win various recycled content prizes that include a metal fire pit, office and kitchen supplies, and home and garden products.

Recycling conserves energy and natural resources, prevents air and water pollution and is increasingly important to the state's economy. In North Carolina, about 13,000 jobs are tied to the recycling industry. Numerous businesses are involved in the collection of an increasing range of
materials, such as construction waste, computers and collected household recyclables.

Recently, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources challenged local governments to improve the performance of their local programs in order to reach the goal of "2 Million tons by 2012." The goal is to achieve an annual rate of 2 million tons of recycling through
municipal and county recycling programs. To reach 2 million tons of annual recovery by 2012, local government recycling programs would need to increase their performance by 48 percent from the July 1, 2007, baseline, which represents about a 10 percent improvement per year. By
pledging to recycle, North Carolinians can help contribute to the "2 Million Tons by 2012" goal.

To learn more about America Recycles Day activities in North Carolina or to sign an online pledge, go to http://www.p2pays.org/ARD.html.

America Recycles Day 2008 – Update 3

Try to attend one of these upcoming ARD events.

EDGECOMBE AND NASH COUNTIES
- Rocky Mount, Nashville and Tarboro, N.C. Cell Phone Roundup
- (252) 467-4960 or Cornelia.McGee-Anthony@rockymountnc.gov.
- November 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Details: Wal-Mart Supercenters in Nashville, Rocky Mount and Tarboro.
Drop off cell phones, batteries, chargers, accessories and connection cords.

GUILFORD COUNTY - Greensboro and High Point, N.C. Kids, Cans and Cash
- (336) 373-2053 or Yvonne.Foust@greensboro-nc.gov.
- Details: Elementary school recycling challenge. Collect cans within schools from October 27-November 10.

GREENSBORO COLLEGE - Greensboro, N.C. ARD event
- (336) 272-7102 x269 or annwf@greensborocollege.edu.
- November 14
- Details: Test knowledge of what’s recyclable, view RE3.org commercials and complete pledge.

HENDERSON COUNTY - Hendersonville, N.C. ARD event
- (828) 694-6524 or aoutcalt@hendersoncountync.org.
- Details: TBA

N.C. STATE - Raleigh, N.C. Electronics and Shredding Drive
- (919) 515-9881 or analis_fulghum@ncsu.edu.
- November 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Details: Outside Reynolds Coliseum. Will have games and complete pledge.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY - Wilmington, N.C. Fall Nature Festival in Halyburton Park
- (910) 341-4340 or jeokeefe@nhcgov.com.
- November 15.
- Details: Cell phone recycling drive and complete pledge.

PERSON INDUSTRIES - Roxboro, N.C. Personality Festival
- (336) 599-7571 or LJeffreys@personcounty.net.
- November 15.
- Details: Complete pledge and get free prize.

RALEIGH, N.C. Recycle and Shred-A-Thon
- (919) 831-6494 or linda.leighton@ci.raleigh.nc.us.
- November 15, 9 a.m.-Noon, Capital Blvd. Shoppes (3033 Capital Blvd).
- Details: Win a paper shredder for home, meet Can Guy and win prizes.

UNC CHARLOTTE - Charlotte, N.C. ARD event
- (704) 687-4283 or dlhatley@uncc.edu.
- November 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Belk Tower.
- Details: Reusable swap of school supplies and clothes, and recycling info.

WAYNE COUNTY - Goldsboro, N.C. Recycled Ornament Contest
- (919) 731-1365 or Simonne.Cato@waynegov.com.
- November 14.
- Details: Arts Council is host site for contest that is being conducted in all K-12 schools.

America Recycles Day 2008 - Update 2

We have a new NC based America Recycles Day web site. Check it out.

This year when people take the recycling pledge, they can pledge to:
-Find out what is recyclable in their community
-Lead by example in their neighborhood by recycling
-Recycle batteries, cell phones and other e-waste
-Email elected officials asking them to increase funding for recycling
-Tell 5 friends that recycling is the easiest thing they can do to stop global warming

Everyone that electronically signs the pledge will be registered to win state-wide recycled content prizes. Prizes include - metal fire pit, office supplies, kitchen supplies, home and garden products, etc.

Resources we can provide:
-Draft ARD news release and community resolution
-ARD high-res artwork
-ARD posters and promo items
-Recycled Content Product Kit
-NC Recycling Cycle graphic

Please let me know if you are planning an event and we will post it on our site. If you need any of the above resources, please contact me.

America Recycles Day 2008 - Update 1

What are you doing to celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD) this year?

In 2006 we kicked off the blog and hung out on NC State’s campus. In 2007, we created our ARD web page and worked with an environmental educator to create some recycled content product kits that are available for check out.

Guess what we plan to do this year?
- Allow state fair goers to pledge to recycle and buy recycled through the ARD web site while at the fair.
- Conduct on-air recycled content prize giveaways with all Clear Channel radio stations throughout NC.
How can we help you with your ARD event?

America Recycles Day – Part 3

America Recycles Day is all about promoting the cycle of recycling – collection, processing and buying recycled. Without purchasing products made with recycled content you don’t “close the loop.”

This is an old commercial from CA where the character, Recycle Rex, talks about “Closing the Loop.” Unfortunately I think the wrong term wrong is being used. Closing the loop means collecting recyclables, processing those recyclables and buying recycled products. However, they don’t mention recycled content products at all in the video.



Do you know the difference between these two icons? One means it is recyclable (maybe not in your community although) and one means it is made with recycled material. Which is which? Comment below.

America Recycles Day – Part 2

On Thursday (America Recycles Day) we will celebrate the ONE year anniversary of the RE3.org blog. Can you believe it? Time flies. I hope everyone enjoys the blog and is getting good info from it. Please let me know what you would like more information on or how this communication method could better serve you.

Another milestone is also about to happen. Our “Epiphany – Alternate Ending” video on YouTube has had 9,650 views. How cool would it be to have it be watched by more than 10,000 people on the one-year anniversary of our blog? Help us make that happen. E-mail your friends and tell them to watch the fun, swanky video before Thursday.

It’s like watching your odometer switch over. Who doesn’t think it’s cool when it flips over to 100,000?

America Recycles Day – Part 1

Are you celebrating America Recycles Day on Nov. 15? If so, how? Post your event in the comment section of this blog. RE3.org has some information to support those participating in America Recycles Day.

1. The Environmentally Preferable Procurement Web page lists places to purchase recycled content products.

2. Check out the “Made in NC: Recycled Content Products Help Fuel the State’s Economy” report.

3. Want a pictorial way to describe recycling? Use the “Carolina Loop” graphic.

4. We now have Recycled-Content Product Kits that can be checked out for school presentations or festival booths.

Celebrate America Recycles Day via an EPA Webinar on Nov. 15 at 1:00 p.m. Title - “Climate and Waste - What is the connection? What can you do? Counting your results.” To register click here.

What is that wheel that Bianca is spinning?

If you saw my America Recycles Day post when we were on NC State’s campus, Bianca brought with her the “Wheel of Waste Reduction”. This is a great way to engage people at a booth. They have to answer a waste reduction question before they get their “free stuff.”

If you have any recycling, composting, reuse or waste reduction questions you want to submit to Bianca feel free to post them in the comments section of this blog.

How did you spend America Recycles Day?

My Raleigh buddy Bianca, our intern Nicole and I hung out on NC State’s campus yesterday to talk with students about recycling. Read up about the “Landfill on the Lawn” event in this article from NC State’s student newspaper, The Technician.

Look at this tattoo we saw yesterday. Timely!

While on campus we surveyed students about RE3.org. Check back here next week for the survey results.