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Writer's pictureSonia Martinez de Simon

Happy America Recycles Day! ♻️

Tomorrow, November 15th, we will be celebrating a day that highlights the importance of recycling and encourages everyone to reduce waste.


Since its launch in 1997, America Recycles Day has inspired communities across the nation to step up their recycling game and think about the impact of waste on our planet.


America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day that’s all about recycling! It’s a time to learn, get inspired, and take action. Whether at home, school, or work, we can all pitch in to recycle more and waste less.


From plastic bottles and aluminum cans to paper and electronics – recycling helps keep tons of materials out of landfills, saves natural resources, and reduces pollution. And who wouldn’t want to be part of that?


A little history: In the early days, recycling looked a lot different. People mostly reused items out of necessity. But as society grew more aware of environmental issues in the 1970s, the recycling movement truly started to gain traction.

Earth Day became official in 1970, and just a few years later, cities began establishing curbside recycling programs. By the time America Recycles Day came along in the late '90s, recycling had already become an everyday habit for millions!


Here are 5 fun and real recycling story for America Recycles Day:


1. Recycling Bins: The Unexpected Animal Hotel

In various cities, recycling bins seem to attract all kinds of wildlife, from raccoons to snakes. A particularly bold raccoon in Toronto made headlines when it managed to get itself trapped inside a recycling bin, needing the fire department to come to the rescue! It's a good reminder to always check before you close the lid!



A firefighter helping a raccoon out of a trash can

2. The Missing Wedding Ring Mystery

When a Massachusetts woman accidentally threw away her wedding ring with a bag of trash, she thought it was gone forever. But thanks to her quick thinking and the help of waste management employees, they sifted through literal tons of trash to find it, proving that not all treasures belong in the landfill!


A woman looking for a wedding ring in a pile of trash


3. A Cursed Sofa Comes Back Again and Again

In a small town, one old sofa somehow kept making its way back to the streets, no matter how many times it was removed. Residents began calling it "the ghost couch" and jokingly treated it as a haunted fixture of their neighborhood. It turns out someone kept moving it around as a prank—a recycling mystery solved!


4. The Recycling Fanatic with 10,000 Aluminum Cans

An eco-enthusiast in California went viral after his obsession with recycling cans led him to collect over 10,000 aluminum cans in his garage. When asked why, he said he wanted to "save the planet one can at a time." The dedication paid off with a hefty deposit refund and a whole lot of free garage space.


5. A Literal Dumpster Dive for an Art Piece

In New York City, a local artist accidentally threw out a small sculpture, mistaking it for trash. Realizing the mistake hours later, they returned to the dumpster, climbed in, and after a messy search, rescued their artwork. The piece ended up in an art show titled “Waste Not, Want Not”—an oddly fitting theme for the exhibit.

These stories remind us that behind every recycling bin or dumpster, there might just be a quirky tale waiting to be told. Happy America Recycles Day, and remember to keep recycling fun, safe, and maybe a little adventurous!


How Can You Celebrate it?


  • Take a Look at What’s Recyclable. Many of us have items we’re not sure about—today’s the perfect time to learn about what you can and can’t recycle in your community.

  • Participate in a Local Event! Many cities host workshops, tours, and special drop-off days to make it easier to recycle hard-to-process items.

  • Share Your Own Story! Whether it’s about finding a home for an old appliance or giving new life to something forgotten, your experience could inspire others to recycle!


Happy America Recycles Day! And remember, each little effort counts toward a cleaner, greener future. 🌎

A woman next to a recycling bin

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