MenuRecycle Across America
WebsiteMission Statement
Recycle Across America(R); (RAA) and Recycle Across the World(R); (RAW) are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expediting environmental progress by creating the world's first and only society-wide standardized labeling system for recycling bins to make it easier for people to begin to recycle right, wherever they might be. Additionally, Recycle Across America is helping people understand the importance of recycling right, with the introduction of the first celebrity-led solution-driven PSA campaign -- called "Let's recycle right!"R) a.k.a. "Let's"(R).
Description
Recycling is the most important action society can do to simultaneously help the environment, the economy, manufacturing and to prevent waste from going into oceans -- but recycling doesn't work if society is confused at the bin. The society-wide standardized labels for bins are the #1 solution to solve the recycling crisis because the labels help people recycle more and recycle right, wherever they might be. The standardized labels reduce the amount of garbage thrown in recycling bins, which in turn makes recycling economically viable. It's that simple.
The standardized labels initiative was designed, proposed, and created by Michelle "Mitch" Hedlund during her keynote presentation to the executive committee at the 2009 SWANA Recycling Conference. As a result, the solution has been embraced and eagerly adopted by many global brand leaders who recognize the positive and long-lasting impact such an effort can have on society, the environment, and the 30+-year-old practice of recycling.
The standardized label solution for recycling bins has been in use for more than a decade and has proven to increase recycling levels 50-400% and reduce contamination significantly - often, almost entirely. This solution is referred to by the New York Times as "one of the top environmental fixes taking root today," is deemed a "world-changing solution" by Ashoka Global Innovators, and has recently been listed as "one of the top ten solutions to reverse climate change" by the co-author of Project Drawdown.
Program Details
The society-wide standardized labels for recycling bins that make it possible for the public to be able to recycle properly wherever they are -- much like standardized road signs allow the public to be able to drive properly wherever they are. The standardized labels display the specific recycling rules in a standardized format, including color, text, font, terminology, and image methodology.
There are already more than nine million standardized labels in use throughout the U.S., including in federal applications such as the Yosemite/Denali/Grand Teton National Parks, state applications such as Rhode Island, in municipalities, thousands of businesses, nine thousand K-12 schools, airports, sports stadiums, hospitals, etc.
We also operate two award-winning PSA campaigns: "Let's recycle right!" celebrity campaign and "Dear Humans" oceans and sea life campaign. These PSAs are featured nationally on TV stations and billboards, as well as in numerous magazines and other multi-media ad spaces. The campaigns communicate best practices for reducing waste and recycling right; they serve as templates for national and localized communication.
Our organization donates standardized labels to public K-12 schools thanks to donations from corporate sponsors and individuals. Schools that utilize the standardized labels save millions of dollars in trash hauling fees and can use those savings towards more pertinent school programs. The award-winning, K-12 education curriculum we utilize created by One More Generation helps students understand the importance and benefits of waste reduction and proper recycling/composting.
