Recycling 101

The average American usually disposes of four pounds of trash a day. That is an annual average of 1.5 tons of waste per individual. Multiply that by a few hundred million and you see our concern. However, recent research shows that it is more effective for people to be educated about how to recycle while they are young.

In a recent interview, our CEO Reid Husmer recalls learning the dos and don’ts of recycling at an early age and talks about the way it shaped him as an adult. Today children are learning about recycling more and more in the classroom and the stats show how effective this is.

Statistics from Operation Warm show that 64% of adults 30 and younger are more likely to make recycling a priority whereas only 48% of those 65 and older report to. In recent studies by Forbes, younger generations are more aware of how to recycle than older generations because of the digital resources available. While many Boomers and Gen X-ers do their part volunteering and investing in green businesses, they are less likely to recycle because they simply don’t feel confident.

The 1970s were a turning point for environmentalism though. Under Nixon’s administration the Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, Congress followed by passing the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson started observation of Earth Day on April 22, 1970 and while the movement marched on, it was still too new to fully understand for years to come.

Today there are less discrepancies about what can and cannot be recycled. Education has increased consideration and slowed the spread of environmental hazards but there is still work to do. Gone for Good has teamed up with Save on Energy to provide Nico’s Quest to Recycling: A Kid’s Guide! 

This recycling guide starts your tots off with the basics early in a fun and simple way. To teach your kiddos more about how to recycle click the link above to follow Nico on his quest to save the planet. This is an interactive 11-page guide with coloring, crosswords, quizzes, games and more! Start by discussing the importance of preservation and end on how to properly sort you recycling.