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America Recycles Day is fast approaching! Since 1997, people across the country have come together every November 15th to celebrate.

The purpose of America Recycles Day is to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and to encourage more people to take the pledge and join the movement to conserve natural resources and improve our environment. In addition to recycling, four other R’s (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Repurpose) can and should also be considered on this day.

By conserving and reusing the Earth’s natural resources, we save landfill space and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. More importantly, we ensure that these natural resources will be around for future generations.

The 5 R’s – Refuse –  Reduce – Reuse – Repurpose – Recycle

Refuse : Say no to things people offer you that you don’t need, that you never even asked for.  Refuse to buy products that can harm you, your family and the environment.

How can you REFUSE at home for America Recycles Day ?

• Just say NO – no to plastic bags, no to the use of harmful chemicals for cleaning, no to the latest new or upgraded product you don’t need.

Reduce: The first step towards the effective waste management is to consume only a limited number of resources, which are essential.

How can you REDUCE at home for America Recycles Day ?

• Choose items with minimal packaging. For example, purchase loose vegetables rather than veggies shrink-wrapped in foam trays.
• Give up plastic bags in favor of reusable shopping bags.
• Support companies that minimize and use eco-friendly packaging.

Reuse: Reusing your old things for a little longer can play a major role in reducing lot of waste in your surroundings. So, the next time you dispose or recycle anything, give a second thought as whether it still has any life left in it.

How can you REUSE at home for America Recycles Day ?

• Look for items at secondhand stores, yard sales and community swap or “free-cycle” programs.
• Take a look again at your trash can and ask yourself what uses you can find for the items you’re throwing away. For example, yogurt cups and butter tubs can double as pots for starting seeds or plant cuttings.
• Rinse out glass jars and use them to store home-improvement and craft supplies.

Recycle: This is one of those R’s that has caught the maximum attention of all age groups. It is mainly due to the number of recycling programs, which are run by eco-groups and municipalities.

How can you RECYCLE at home for America Recycles Day ?

• Check with your local authorities to find out about recycling programs in your area. While many communities offer curbside pickup for cans, bottles and paper, you may need to take other recyclables — batteries, antifreeze, motor oil and tires — to a collection center or a retailer that accepts such products.
• You can also recycle food scraps and paper through composting, a process by which such wastes break down into organic matter that is a soil enrichment.

Repurpose: Use something for a second purpose. For instance, prevent a plastic barrel first used to transport olives, soft drink syrups or pie fillings to food processing plants from entering a landfill. We repurpose these and create rain barrels to harvest rainwater.

How can you REPURPOSE at home for America Recycles Day ?

• Help your community: Fundraise with rain barrels : be a partner, refer a partner
• Buy a rain barrel ; get on waitlist for a sale.

Let’s use this day to promote, educate and encourage our communities to reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and repurpose!

Are you planning any recycling events or activities around America Recycles Day? Let us know.

 

NYC gives away barrels through a program run by DEP.  You can learn more about it here:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/stormwater/rainbarrel.shtml
Should you need further information: Contact your local elected official or Community Board to see if they have or are scheduling a rain barrel event this spring and summer. 

Find your officials here: http://www.mygovnyc.org/

And your Community Board here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb.shtml

If you find there isn’t a giveaway in your neighbourhood, a fundraising sale could be held.  We’d be happy to hear from you or someone you know who might be interested in holding one there.

You can REFER A PARTNER or FUNDRAISE WITH US in USA or Canada by checking out our website.

 

We hear from people who use rain barrels who do so for many reasons:

• grow great flower gardens,
• reduce runoff that contaminates our water supplies,
• lower water bills,
• avoid flooding or seepage around home’s foundation,
• use water for outdoor cleaning projects

but today, we celebrate those who are practicing vegetarianism and growing GREAT vegetable gardens with the help of their rain barrels!

HAPPY WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY! Each year on October 1, we celebrate

There are many great reasons proponents recommend leading a life of vegetarianism or simply putting more vegetables in your life:

• cheaper than meat
• helps avoid cardiovascular disease
• helps manage weight
• builds strong bones
• reduces pollution
• helps ease some symptoms of body changes like menopause
• reduces number of animals killed for food
• boosts energy
• helps with regularity
• can increase the number of years you live

Have you gone veg? Considered it? Or are you adding more vegetables to your plate, thanks to this information and your rain barrel?

What’s growing in your garden? We’d love to hear about your veggies and recipes.

Stormwater management is critical in these days of unpredictable rain events. Municipalities are required to divert rainwater from sewer systems and rain barrels play an important role in this process. NYC distributes over 10,000 barrels each year through their rain barrel giveaway, enlisting the assistance of residents in managing up to 60 inches of water annually.

Our rain barrels are part of NYC’s stormwater management plan. Check us out on page 52: http://www.waterrf.org/resources/Lists/PublicSpecialReports/Attachments/18/NYC_Stormwater_screen.pdf

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS HERE AND LET YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES KNOW WE ARE READY TO HELP IN YOUR AREA IN CANADA OR USA TOO.

Since 2003, World Water Monitoring Day has increased public awareness of and participation in protecting water by looking at our waterways more closely. Test kits have been made available at http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/ and results are published on their website.

Celebrated on September 18, World Water Monitoring Day gives all of us an opportunity to participate and further the goals of the day. There are event resources, action plans and lesson guides to help you in this effort. Knowing the quality of your waterways is a first step in protecting and enhancing them.

Because rain barrels reduce run-off, they play an important role in reducing water pollution. The more rain barrels in your area, the better chance you have of helping your local waterways.

Join us in a rain barrel fundraiser to support your local non-profit! See RainBarrel.ca/Fundraise-with-us for more information