Month: March 2019

The flags were out for Global Recycling Day at the BMR 8th International Conference in Dubai

Mr Ranjit S. Baxi, Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation and President of BIR, delivered a keynote speech about the Foundation and the second Global Recycling Day on 18th March, at a major recycling conference in Dubai on 10th March 2019.  His speech focused on the unique nature of the recycling industry, and the immense contribution it makes at social, economic and environmental levels, as well as its crucial role in supporting inclusive sustainability as laid out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

As he said to delegates: “Our contributions are invaluable and this must to be shared globally.”

Mr Baxi was enthusiastically welcomed by the Bureau of Middle East Recycling’s (BMR) audience, who were waving Global Recycling Day flags and sporting branded baseball caps. His speech demonstrated how important Global Recycling Day is across the Middle East – and the world.

“It is great to see Global Recycling Day so warmly welcomed by our colleagues in the Middle East,” said Mr Baxi.  “BRM is, for the second year running, really making the 18th March a day to remember in the recycling calendar.  We thank them for all their support and look forward to working with them well into the future.”

How to be a global recycling citizen

Ahead of Global Recycling Day on 18 March 2019, the Global Recycling Foundation is asking children across the world to think about better recycling practices.  To help, a list of “seven recycling promises to become a global recycling citizen” has been created, which families, school and youth orientated clubs are being invited to download and share. These include hot topics in the recycling industry, from single use plastics to climate change and the circular economy.

The seven recycling promises to become a global recycling citizen are:

  1. Use less things made of plastic
    Think about how you can use less things made of plastic, and recycle those that cannot be reused. Things like drinking bottles, straws and plastic bags.
  2. Help friends follow the recycling rules
    Encourage your family, friends and school to follow local recycling instructions.
  3. Repair and reuse old things
    Think about whether you really need everything to be new. See if you can mend, repair and reuse the things you own (e.g. clothes, toys, games).
  4. Only put clean, dry items in your recycling box
    Do everything you can to make sure the stuff you recycle is dry, clean and in the right collection bins each week.
  5. Look online and share with friends
    Look at ways you can learn more about recycling, as well as how you can help family and friends be more aware.
  6. Don’t forget other materials
    Look into how you can recycle things like electronics when you no longer want them.
  7. Remember to recycle packaging
    Try to ensure that you recycle packaging when you open and use new things.

Find out more about how you can get involved in Global Recycling Day here.

Celebrate Global Recycling Day with education materials from the Global Recycling Foundation

Ahead of the second Global Recycling Day, taking place on 18th March 2019, the Global Recycling Foundation has launched a special education pack for teachers to inspire their students to think ‘resource not waste’. As part of this year’s theme, “Recycling into the Future”, Global Recycling Day 2019 is focusing on the power of youth and education in ensuring a brighter future for our children. These recycling-based lesson plans aim to help students to understand the importance of recycling.

The pack is designed to make it easy for teachers to plan a lesson around recycling and can be adapted to suit different ages. The lesson plans will inspire their students with the power of recycling, outlining various ways in which schools and classes can take part in the worldwide Global Recycling Day celebrations. All the materials can be downloaded from the Global Recycling Day website on the Youth & Education page.

The education pack includes:

  • #RecyclingGoals activity details: #RecyclingGoals is a social media movement running in the lead-up to Global Recycling Day:
    • Social media users are asked to take a video of themselves scoring a “Top Bins” goal whilst pledging to make a long term commitment to better recycling practices e.g. “I pledge to recycle all my plastic drinking bottles from today and I nominate John Smith to take the #RecyclingGoals challenge”
    • Participants are then encouraged to share their videos on social media using the #RecyclingGoals hashtag
    • The pack includes more details and a graphic illustrating the #RecyclingGoals concept so that schools can take part

This handy guide of activities makes it easy for teachers and students to celebrate Global Recycling Day and learn about the importance of recycling in looking after the future of our planet.

Schools, teachers and students can share their activities on Global Recycling Day using #GlobalRecycling Day, #RecyclingGoals, #GRDschools and tagging @GlbRecyclingDay on Twitter and @globalrecyclingday on Facebook and Instragram. And for further information on how to inspire your students to think resource not waste, schools can contact the Global Recycling Foundation team on info@globalrecyclingfoundation.org.

How to get involved in Global Recycling Day 2019

Everything is gearing up for the second annual Global Recycling Day, taking place on Monday 18th March 2019, with celebrations planned around the world. Global Recycling Day is dedicated to celebrating the importance of recycling and making the world think resource not waste. And with events taking place across the globe, including Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America, as well as social media and educational activities to get involved in, there are a host of ways to take part in Global Recycling Day 2019.

Read on to find out how you can join the movement to celebrate the power of recycling:

The #RecyclingGoals Football Challenge

The #RecyclingGoals football challenge is a social media movement that harnesses the power of football to inspire long term recycling habits in people across the world.

We’re encouraging social media users everywhere to get involved in the #RecyclingGoals challenge by taking a video of themselves scoring a “Top Bins” goal (into a recycling bin in the top corner of the goal or just a normal goal) whilst pledging to make a long term commitment to better recycling practices e.g. “I pledge to recycle all my plastic drinking bottles from today and I nominate John Smith to take the #RecyclingGoals challenge”.

We want everyone to then spread the world about recycling by sharing their videos online using the hashtag #RecyclingGoals and tagging Global Recycling Day on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

City-centre events around the globe

With events across the world, from Nigeria and Korea to the UK and Brazil, Global Recycling Day events will stretch to everyone corner of the world. Find out more about events taking place in your country and pop along to get involved. With events including real-life #RecyclingGoals Football Challenges, recycled fashion shows and talks from experts, there’s plenty of entertainment to enjoy.

 Educational programmes

Part of our aim in 2019 is to champion the power of youth and education in protecting the future of our planet through better recycling practices, and so we’ve designed Global Recycling Day educational packs for teachers and students to use in their classrooms. The pack is designed to make it easy for teachers to plan a lesson around recycling and inspire their students with the power of recycling, outlining various ways in which schools can take part in the Global Recycling Day celebrations. You can find out more on our Youth & Education page.

With just one week to go, the Global Recycling Foundation is encouraging everyone to think about how they can get involved in Global Recycling Day 2019. Whether it’s making a recycling pledge or attending one of the global events taking place, everyone can enjoy the fun and celebrate the power of recycling.

Take part in the #RecyclingGoals challenge

The #RecyclingGoals movement has kicked off and we want YOU to take part!

Ahead of Global Recycling Day on 18 March 2019, the Global Recycling Foundation has launched the #RecyclingGoals challenge; a social media movement that harnesses the power of football to inspire long term recycling habits in young people across the world.

With only 12 years on the clock to reverse catastrophic climate change, the state of the environment and its preservation is of the utmost importance. As the last generation who can halt the devastating impacts of climate change, the fate of our planet rests with young people, and yet, only 49% of 16-24 year olds say they recycle all they can – the lowest of any age bracket. With this campaign, the Foundation hopes to motivate a movement of youth, passionate and urgent about protecting the future of our planet.

Ranjit S Baxi, Founding President of Global Recycling Day comments “Our vision is to connect the strong example the football industry sets for recycling with young people across the world. With the #RecyclingGoals campaign, we aim to encourage as many people as possible to share the message of the importance of recycling, actively get involved in the challenge, and propel the energy of the social media movement.” 

In the lead up to Global Recycling Day 2019, social media users across the globe are asked to participate in the #Recycling Goals challenge by:

  1. Capturing a video of themselves scoring a “Top Bins” goal (into a recycling bin in the top corner of the goal or just a normal goal) whilst pledging to make a long term commitment to better recycling practices e.g. “I pledge to recycle all my plastic drinking bottles from today and I nominate John Smith to take the #RecyclingGoals challenge”.
  2. Sharing their videos and pictures of their challenge online using the hashtag #RecyclingGoals and tagging Global Recycling Day on Instagram or Facebook.

A step by step guide on how to participate in the #RecyclingGoals challenge has been created for the public, which you can find on our website, and we’d love you to share, download, and partipate!

“We are simply paying lip-service to recycling”: A statement from Ranjit Baxi

The true and catastrophic scale of environmental damage is becoming clearer by the day. It is absolutely vital that we act immediately to clean up and preserve what we have left, and protect the future of our planet. Scientists, environmental leaders, and even schoolchildren (representing the generation who will have to deal with the worst excesses of our environmental legacy) are all calling for urgent action to be taken by everyone, now.

In this spirit, our own Ranjit Baxi, founding president of the Global Recycling Foundation has issued a statement exhorting people, governments, and corporations around the world to take recycling seriously. While he applauds current efforts, he warns that “to date, the steps which have been made remain small, and crucially time is not on our side.”

“We are simply paying lip-service to recycling”, Mr Baxi says, and this lack of commitment to thinking resource not waste is “barely making any impact in rectifying the damage we have already caused”.

Recycling has enormous potential to not just alter the future of the planet, but to change the way we view ‘waste’. By transforming the things we throw away into new products, manufacturing industries can become self-sustaining. By reframing what we currently consider ‘waste’ as a valuable resource, we can eradicate our problem with litter pollution and reduce much of the need for us to plunder the planet’s natural resources.

However, as Mr Baxi says, “Unless producers and recyclers work together to streamline processes, educating the world on the manifest benefits of recycling will remain a near impossible task”.

Humanity has consumed more resources in the last 50 years than in the entirety of our previous history. If we want to reverse the damage this has caused, reports indicate that we have just twelve years to do so. Not for our own sakes, but for the sakes of our children and their children.

“Governments, NGOs, private and public businesses, environmentalists, economists, entrepreneurs, innovators, and disruptors must band together to find new solutions, and new solutions fast”, Mr Baxi concludes.

“Together, we can make a difference”.

 

Global Recycling Day starts to announce events and activities from across the world

With Global Recycling Day fast approaching on 18th March 2019, events and celebrations across the world are starting to unfold to raise awareness of the importance of recycling for the future of the planet.

From fashion shows to litter pick-ups and exhibitions, there’s a range of events set to take place as well as the #RecyclingGoals challenge, which individuals can take part in across social media. The challenge uses the power of football to educate young people on better recycling practices.

If you’re looking to get involved in Global Recycling Day, below is a list of just some of the global events set to take place on 18th March and dates leading up to that.  If you are running your own event, please let us know at info@globalrecyclingday.com, and don’t forget to share on social media using #GlobalRecyclingDay and #RecyclingGoals.

 

Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Community Arts Partnership in Belfast hosted a TRASH Fashion Show on 2nd March 2019, with 109 participants.

 

Brussels, Belgium

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is working with member organisations, including the Belgian National Associations to carry out various activities in Brussels.

 

Delhi, India

The Inland Importers and Consumers Association (IICA) is organising a celebration of Global Recycling Day for over 2,000 children including workshops, discussions and a lunch.

The Tinna Group is also working with The British School in New Delhi and an orphanage to raise awareness of Global Recycling Day.

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR) plans to organise various activity in Dubai to promote Global Recycling Day.

 

Durban, South Africa

The Department of Environment in South Africa assisted with a national clean-up programme called #GoodGreenDeeds which was launched by their State President on 8th March 2019.  The programme focuses on clean-up campaigns and waste management awareness raising.

 

Lagos, Nigeria

U-Recycle, an organisation that educates local children on recycling, planning a fashion show with clothes made from recycled materials, a fun fair in the city, an art exhibition partnering with local schools and will host a series of recycling games, such as an obstacle course.

 

London, UK

Thanks to Shaftsbury, the Global Recycling Day team will be at Carnaby Street on 18th March encouraging individuals to take part in the #RecyclingGoals challenge. The activity aims to educate consumers in the area and local school children about the importance of recycling to help protect the planet’s future.

The Forest School in London will also be conducting a litter pick up for students to educate them on the importance of recycling.

 

Middleburg, South Africa

Illy B’s Environmental Education and Sustainability Awareness charity will organised a host of events for school children in Middleburg on 8th March 2019, including gathering plastic bottles, educating children on recycling as well as a ‘fun day’ that took place on 22nd February 2019, where children wore hats made of recycled goods.

 

Mongolia

The Asia Foundation is organizing a series of Brown Bag lunches and video screening over the course of a week, to raise awareness on the importance of sound waste management and the role we can play as individuals in improving the overall system. TAF will inaugurate a new custom-made composting bin that will be placed at their offices to ‘Walk the talk’ and recycle the organic waste generated on-site

 

Nepal

LEAD Nepal is organising a painting competition on 17th March in schools on the topic Recycling into the Future .

On 14th March, the Little Recyclers of the future (grade 1 to 2 students) were engaged in repurposing activities and making handicrafts out of recyclable items.

 

Paris, France

FEDEREC will plan various activities in Paris as well as launching a social media campaign promoting the second life of recycled objects.

 

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The European Business Chamber in Trinidad and Tobago is hosting a mix and mingle on 18th March from 5pm – 7pm. The event will highlight how technology can work to improve sustainability, resource management and opex reduction.

 

Rotherham, UK

British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) will organise a metal collection for local schools in Rotherham to help raise funds for the schools. BMRA will also educate school children on Global Recycling Day through presentations, as well as inviting them to take part in quizzes.

 

Sao Paolo, Brazil

Exposucata, Latin America’s waste and recycling event organisers, will be encouraging individuals to promote Global Recycling Day, as well as the #RecyclingGoals challenge.

 

Seoul, South Korea

A recycling activist in Korea, Mr Yong J.Lee, is heading up Global Recycling Day celebrations in Seoul, with special education packs to be shared with local schools.

 

Washington DC, USA

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) will be promoting Global Recycling Day on Capitol Hill and will be inviting Senators to take part in their activities. The organisation is working on a White House proclamation and a statement from House Recycling Caucus Co-Chairs, as well as reaching out to schools to get involved in the day.

 

Washington, USA

Eco-influencer, Mandi Thorne, has organised a beach clean up at Purdy Sand Spit from 10am – 2pm on 17th March 2019 as well as a Global Recycling Day celebration at Gig Harbor from 10am – 12pm

 

To get in touch with the Global Recycling Day team, please contact info@globalrecyclingday.com.

Statement of Support from Sims Metal Management

Elise Gautier, Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer
Sims Metal Management

We are proud to be a founding sponsor of the Bureau of International Recycling’s Global Recycling Day, and show our support for the Global Recycling Foundation for bringing awareness to the importance of recycling in order to preserve our natural resources.

As a global leader in metal and electronics recycling, and an emerging leader in municipal recycling and renewable energy, sustainability and corporate social responsibility are fully integrated into Sims Metal Management’s business strategy and culture.

Global Recycling Day reminds us that we are all stewards of our world’s resources, and we need to do more to keep resources in use as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, and then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of their useful life.

Our core business is the closed-loop circular flow of materials, and we are universally recognized as an international leader in the transformation of discarded consumer products into valuable secondary resources. At Sims, we are steadfastly dedicated to prioritizing sustainability and its importance to our business, and we will continue to support the initiatives of the Global Recycling Foundation toward shaping a more sustainable world.

Nigerian based ‘U-Recycle Initiative’ is set to hold Nigeria’s first major Global Recycling Day event

U-Recycle Initiative, a team of young people aimed at promoting recycling culture in Nigeria, is set to host Nigeria’s first major Global Recycling Day event on 18th March 2019 in Lagos. Centred around the theme Recycling into the Future, Global Recycling Day aims to celebrate the power of recycling and make the world think ‘resource not waste’. U-Recycle Initiative’s event will take place between 10am – 4pm on 18th March 2019 in Ndubuisi Kanu Park Ikeja, in a fun-fair style event with a host of fun activities. Aiming to attract over 150 guests, including schools, special guests and other interested members of the public, the event’s activities include:

  • #RecyclingGoals football challenge: The event will include a chance to take part in Global Recycling Day’s #RecyclingGoals campaign. Based around football and recycling, the campaign asks social media users to take a video of themselves scoring a football goal whilst pledging to make a long term commitment to better recycling practices. Participants can then tag #RecyclingGoals and #GlobalRecyclingDay on their social media feeds to spread the word.
  • Upcycle Fashion Show: The event will also include a special ‘upcycle’ fashion show, with U-Recycle Initiative partnering with Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative to display fashion outfits made from recyclable materials.
  • Recycle Art Exhibition / Contest: An art contest / exhibition will feature various artworks made out of recycled materials from students at local schools.
  • Expert Talk session: The event will also include talks on recycling from experts and prominent individuals.
  • Recycle Games: Games and activities will include a recycle obstacle course, where participants have to navigate the course of recycled materials as quickly as they can while carrying a recyclable object. Other activities will include recycling pin bowling and recycling skyscrapers, where each participant has to try and build the highest pyramid of cans in one minute, as well as many more fun games.

U-Recycle Initiative, sponsored by The Nigerian Child Initiative, Wildlife Africa Conservation Initiative and Lagos Lagoonkeepers, runs workshops and programmes in Nigerian schools with the aim of educating children about the value of recycling. Their event is part of multiple activities taking place in all continents around the world in countries including the USA, South Africa, the UK, India, Dubai and Australia.

Global Recycling Foundation President Ranjit Baxi commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with U-Recycle Initiative to launch the first major Global Recycling Day event in Lagos, Nigeria. Recycling is a global issue and every one of us, in every corner of the world, must consider how we can encourage better recycling habits. By launching events and celebrating the power of recycling across the globe, we can encourage the world to think ‘resource not waste’, and help to look after the future of our planet.”