Every day is recycle day in Texas

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Nov. 11, 2004 - In 2002 Texans threw away over 29 million tons of waste, equaling 7.3 pounds of trash per person each day. Recycling could significantly decrease the $1 billion Texans spend annually to dispose of their trash. Recycling can help save money and our environment.

Texas Recycles Day (TRD), which takes place every year on Nov. 15, raises public awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of recycling.

"We not only focus on recycling, but we focus on the four R's," said Carley Dowell, communications coordinator with Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB).

The four R's include: reduce, reuse, recycle and rebuy.

"We reiterate that you can reuse it if you can't recycle it," Dowell said. "If you reuse, waste is reduced. Try buying a ceramic mug rather than using paper cups. Large families and businesses should buy in bulk because it uses less packaging."

The recycling process does not only focus on bottles, cans and paper, which is what people typically think recycling is all about. Hazardous waste, like old paint, pesticides, fertilizers and oil can be recycled. Electronic waste, which includes items like cell phones, computers and other electronics, is the fastest growing portion of the municipal solid waste stream. Educating Texans on the advantages of recycling and the consequences of throwing these items away, is what TRD focuses on. It also provides Texans with the recycling resources that are available to them.

"TRD is funded by a state program, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Keep Texas Beautiful partners with them," Dowell explained. "We have multiple activities. Any activity or educational event that addresses the four R's is a Texas Recycles Day event."

Events for electronic waste, like recycling drives for items such as larger electronics and hazardous wastes, and people collecting cell phones and bulk pick ups are held across Texas. Schools also get involved. They make art with recycled items and high schools hold public service announcements, Dowell said.

"It turns out the recycling rates in Texas have been declining," Dowell said. "There may be two reasons. The first part is a financial issue. Some cities can't afford it. And the second reason is that it may not be on people's minds as much as it was in the past."

The possible environmental damages from landfilling or incinerating electronic equipment include the potential for the release of various toxic substances into the ground water and air.

"It's interesting how much of our waste can be composted- like food," Dowell said. "When things are incinerated, chemicals are released into the air. The landfills in Texas are filled up with trash and some things never decompose. It's potentially damaging air and water quality."

TRD's theme this year, is "reused" from last year. It is "Texas Recycles Every Day."

"We want a lifestyle change so that people continue to recycle on their own each day, not just once a year on Texas Recycles Day," Dowell explained. "Big events are wonderful, but the other arm is the educational side. Recycling is easy and you can do it every day."

For more information on the TRD program, visit www.texasrecyclesday.org. A list of recycling events across Texas is also available on the website.