Enjoying Outdoor Fun This Summer?

Outdoor fun in the form of softball games, barbecues, parades, concerts and running events is a great way to enjoy the summer. However, these activities can also generate a substantial amount of trash. Bottles, cans and other materials from public events are often thrown away, but they present a great opportunity to help the community and the environment through recycling.

Americans are accustomed to recycling at home and in the workplace. In 2007, Americans recycled 85 million of the 254 million tons of garbage generated. This recycling rate of 33.4 percent is more than double the rate in 1990. Even more impressive, more than 37 percent of plastic soft drink bottles and 49 percent of all aluminum beverage cans are recycled each year. Still, recyclable materials used at outdoor events — such as glass and plastic bottles, paper cups, aluminum cans and corrugated cardboard — often end up in the trash.

Recycling and waste reduction conserve natural resources, yield energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Manufacturing goods from recycled materials typically requires less energy than producing an item from virgin material, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are produced. The energy savings from recycling can be substantial: The 85 million tons that Americans recycled in 2007 saved enough energy to power more than 7 million U.S. homes for a year.

Encouraging waste reduction and recycling at public events keeps public spaces clean and protects the environment. It can also cut waste disposal costs, generate extra revenue for event organizers and sponsors and educate the public about the importance of recycling. While the benefits of recycling at community events vary greatly, small efforts can add up.

St. Louis Earth Day’s Recycling on the Go program demonstrates how effective recycling in public places can be. In 2008, the program collected 25 tons of materials. If all U.S. cities the size of St. Louis or larger had similar results for their events, we could save the annual emissions from 690 cars.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Recycle on the Go initiative promotes recycling at public events. EPA’s Recycle on the Go Web site offers tools to help you start a recycling program, success stories and tips for including concessionaires and vendors in the recycling process.

You can encourage waste reduction and recycling at public events in your community. If your family has a favorite community event that you attend each summer, contact the organizers and ask if they will offer recycling opportunities at the event, and suggest that they look for ways to reduce waste. Make them aware of the Recycle on the Go initiative and offer to get involved coordinating. If your summertime activities involve travel, look for recycling efforts while on the go, including airports, train stations and rest stops.

To learn how you can incorporate waste reduction and recycling into your event, visit EPA’s Recycle on the Go Web site at www.epa.gov/recycleonthego, or EPA’s communities Web site at www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/community.htm, and read the Guide for Multi-Cultural Community Groups. Earth911 is another valuable resource, with local recycling information, including recycling materials, markets, facilities and drop-off centers. The Runner’s World Green Team Web page also offers useful information, including a green guide, case studies and an application form to have your race certified “green.”

Content provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.