[Durham INC] Durham Launches Recycling Pledge Drive

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov

 

For Immediate Release:  November 15, 2010

 

 


Durham Challenges Residents to Pledge to Recycle


City of Durham Sponsors Recycling Pledge Drive Through December 17 


 

DURHAM, N.C. - Durham residents can do more than help the environment by
recycling - they can win prizes too thanks to a new, month-long pledge
drive sponsored by the City of Durham. 

 

Residents can now make their pledge to recycle on the City's website at 
www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/solid
<http://www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/solid/> . By signing the pledge,
individuals are committing to recycle more to preserve the environment.
Residents who pledge to recycle will then be entered into a weekly
drawing to win a prize package, which includes reusable tote bags,
pencils made from recycled currency, T-shirts, gift cards, and more.
Winners will be contacted by phone or e-mail and drawing entries are
limited to one per person. Individuals interested in making a paper
pledge should visit the main lobby of Durham City Hall, located at 101
City Hall Plaza, by Friday, November 19. The online pledge form will be
available until Friday, December 17. 

 

According to Donald Long, director of the City's Department of Solid
Waste Management, the pledge drive is another way to help educate Durham
residents on the importance of recycling each and every day. "We are
sponsoring this recycling pledge drive to inform the community about
what can be accomplished when we all work together to conserve our
natural resources and reduce waste," said Long.  "We are launching a
month-long challenge to encourage residents to make a commitment to
recycle 365 days a year."

 

Why Take the Pledge?

*         Recycling one ton of paper saves: 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of
water, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, and
enough energy to heat an average size home for six months.

*         Manufacturers can make one extra-large T-shirt out of only
five recycled two-liter plastic soda bottles.

*         Americans throw away enough aluminum every three months to
rebuild the country's entire commercial air fleet.

*         When one ton of steel is recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore,
1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.

*         Recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy
required to make aluminum cans from scratch.

*         The amount of aluminum recycled in 1995 could have built 14
aircraft carriers.

(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Quest for Less)

 

Fast Facts About Recycling in Durham

*         Durham provides curbside recycling collection to 67,400
households.

*         90 percent of single family households in Durham participate
in the recycling program.

*         The City collected 13,387 tons of recyclable items between
July 2009 and June 2010.

*         The City collects numerous recyclable items, including
aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, newspaper, mixed paper,
cardboard, and plastic bottles.

*         The City's Department of Solid Waste Management recently began
collecting additional recyclable items, including yogurt and margarine
containers; ridged plastics such as toys, buckets and lawn chairs;
aseptic containers which includes chicken broth containers, juice boxes
and orange juice cartons; and clean plastic buckets with non-metal
handles

*         All recyclable items must be placed inside the recycling cart
and can be no more than two feet long. Items must also weigh less than
40 pounds.

 

Residents interesting in learning more recycling or the pledge drive
campaign should contact Larrisha McGill, waste reduction coordinator
with the City's Department of Solid Waste Management, by e-mail at 
Larrisha.McGill at DurhamNC.gov or by calling (919) 560-4186. 

 

About the Department of Solid Waste Management
The City of Durham's Department of Solid Waste Management promotes and
supports a high quality of life for the citizens of Durham by providing
comprehensive, responsive, environmentally-safe, efficient and
cost-effective solid waste collection, recycling and disposal programs.
Department services include roll-out cart collection, cart delivery and
repair service, dumpster collection, cardboard collection, yard waste
collection, waste reduction and recycling, bulky item pick-up, street
cleaning, and disposal services. For more information, visit the City's
website at www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/solid
<http://www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/solid/> .

 

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