Global Recycling Day to be held March 18

London:

"There is just one week to go until the third annual Global Recycling Day, taking place on 18th March 2020. Individuals and organisations around the world are getting ready to celebrate the day and raise awareness of the importance of recycling and the ways we can all turn ‘waste’ into a valuable resource," write the Global Recycling Foundation in a press release.

The last decade has been the hottest on record, the Global Recycling Foundation points out on their website, and the world is now "facing a climate emergency of unparalleled proportions. If we don’t make significant and rapid changes, we will see continued rising global temperatures, the melting of icecaps, continents on fire and rapid deforestation."

Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, they state, and each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tons in CO2 emissions, projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030.

Toward that mission, Global Recycling Foundation (as of this writing*) will host events and activities worldwide to celebrate recycling, whilst raising awareness of the circular economy and the importance of recycling in combating climate change."

Clearly, as the world suffers the pandemic of Covid-19, it is imperative that one also keep our other priorities in mind. A pandemic is not an excuse to be wasteful. Some might even argue that climate change is the scourge that scientists might find led us to this moment in history. Certainly, selfishness and wildlife trafficking are elements of the story that is developing behind Covid-19.

But back to recycling.

The Global Recycling Foundation is also currently reviewing numerous competition entries to the #RecyclingHeroes social media competition, which ended March 8. Ten winners from around various continents will receive a $1,000 prize to help toward their recycling initiatives. The winners will be announced on Global Recycling Day next week.

Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation, Ranjit Baxi, said: “Single-use plastics, the environment and climate change are just a few of the major issues we are faced with on a daily basis. The answer to these challenges is recycling. As a result of this, Global Recycling Day allows people across the world the chance to showcase all the inspiring initiatives dedicated to recycling, and how they are paving the way towards a greener future. This year’s theme is #RecyclingHeroes – celebrating the world’s unsung or local heroes, from children, schools, teachers and professionals to businesses and communities. We are proud to recognise all the recycling initiatives in place and hope to welcome many more new ones in years to come.”

Here in Connecticut, where we've effectively banned plastic bag use, we can use this day as an opportunity to ramp up our recycling efforts. About 80% of customers forget their bags in the car when they shop (based on my research). This is a step in the right direction (bringing the reusable bag to the store) but they should bring the bag in! We can go further and search our homes for wastefulness. You can reuse those Ziplock bags; you don't need paper plates for that birthday party. In terms of electronics, please avoid the urge to upgrade to the latest iPhone - it's hard to come by now anyway during the Covid outbreak.

Follow the Global Recycling Day news on Twitter: @GlbRecyclingDay; and on IG: globalrecyclingday

For more information on how to get involved in this year’s Global Recycling Day, please contact info@globalrecyclingfoundation.org.

* Author's note - with the pandemic developing globally, please check social media daily as events worldwide are being shuttered. Also consult with your own community health department and doctor should you have questions regarding attending events. Meanwhile, make a commitment to recycle your single-use plastics, whether or not you attend an event.

PHOTO: By cs:ŠJů - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7614762