November 15th is America Recycles Day, a day set aside to increase public awareness of our need to reduce waste, recycle and buy recycled products. America Recycles Day challenges all of us to be better consumers by changing the way we think about what we throw away. This year, help us get the word out about paper recycling. Print out this flyer and post it at your supermarket, church, synogogue, community center, library, workplace, coffee shop, etc.

Could you recycle just 30 more pounds of paper a year? Last year, Cambridge residents recycled 6,460 tons of paper waste, but threw out 1500 tons more! Remember, "if it rips, recycle it" as long as it is free from food and plastic wrapping. Recycling paper is easy and a little effort makes a big difference.

All magazines, newspapers, junk mail/catalogues, mixed paper, phone books, and paperboard, such as cereal and tissue boxes can be recycled together in a paper bag (no plastic bags). There's no need to remove staples, paper clips, spirals, plastic windows on envelopes or tissue boxes or even the plastic spout on milk and juice cartons.

Recycle cardboard too, it's not thaaat hard! Flatten and cut to 3 ft X 3 ft for curbside or flatten & bring to Drop-Off Center during open hours. To break cardboard boxes down look for the weak point on one of the inside corners, rip apart at the seam.

This year, help us get the word out about paper recycling. Print out our flyer and post it at your supermarket, church, synogogue, community center, library, workplace, coffee shop, etc.

Last year, we celebrated Amercia Recycles Day by:

• Hosting a lunchtime film for City and MIT employees. We watched Affluenza, which reveals the forces that have dramatically transformed us from a nation that prized thriftiness into the ultimate consumer society.
  
  
• Hosting an information table in front of City Hall. We spoke with residents about how easy it is to recycle in Cambridge!

• Held a free workshop on home composting at the North Cambridge Senior Center.

• Held recycling volunteer orientation at the Public Works building and recruited several people to help out in the office and get involved in the Recycling Advisory Committee.
  

Last year we celebrated America Recycles Day by:

• Hosting a lunchtime film for City employees. We watched Affluenza, which reveals the forces that have dramatically transformed us from a nation that prized thriftiness into the ultimate consumer society.
  
  
• Hosting an information table in front of City Hall. We swapped mercury thermometers for digital ones and sold homecomposters at a discounted price!
  
  
• Held an open house at the Recycling Drop-Off Center where visitors could bring their recycling and find out where it goest.

In 2000, Foodmaster on Beacon Street, Harvest Co-op Markets on Massachusetts Avenue and Star Market at University Park spread the message of America Recycles Day by using a paper grocery bag provided by the City's recycling division to package their customers groceries. If you weren't lucky enough to go home with one, the bag displayed the eco-friendly dinosaur "Trashasaurous", the Area 4 recycling mascot, offering shoppers instructions for how to "make trash extinct." A word search puzzle adorned the other side of the bag, a big hit with youngsters accompanying their parents to the supermarket. Photo: Ariadne Myrivili-Higgins (left) and Chris Durkin bagging groceries at Harvest Co-op Markets.

While waiting for a receipt or credit card authorization Foodmaster cashiers offered customers a recycling pledge card. Shoppers filling out pledge cards, were entered into the "America Green Dream House" drawing. Martha, from Somerville, said that to win the "house that recycling built" she would pledge to recycle her dog food cans. That's dedication!

Geoffrey Harper, Vice President of Foodmaster says "we chose to promote America Recycles Day because we believe in recycling." Foodmaster recycles cardboard and encourages customers to bring in their own bags to reuse. They also find a way to recycle plastic bags, which is sometimes difficult without owning their own warehouse. Foodmaster is a popular spot for local can recyclers according to Service Manager, Andrew Johnson, "because we give the full 5 cent return on bottles and cans." Photo: Jorgina S. Laranjeira "pledging to recycle" at Foodmaster.

Year round you will find the shelves at Harvest stocked with many paper products made with recycled content. Chris Durkin, Member Services Coordinator for Harvest Co-op Markets believes that recycling is a "means to eliminate the need for more landfills and encourage the re-use of raw materials." Harvest also sells and promotes organic and non-genetically-engineered foods.

At the end of the day, over 4,000 "Trashasaurous" paper bags were distributed, more than 40 people entered to win the America Green Dream House using paper ballots, and countless others entered over the internet. Recycling Director Jan Aceti hopes that this event will encourage more people to join the ranks of other Cambridge residents who "through their everyday recycling efforts have increased the City's recycling rate to almost 33%!" To celebrate recycling everyday call 349-4879 to receive a free blue bin.

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