At The Home Depot, sustainability is more than a buzzword – it’s a commitment. With America Recycles Day coming up on November 15th, there’s no better time to highlight the importance of recycling, and how we can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future. As a leader in home improvement, we’re dedicated to helping homeowners and Pros make environmentally conscious choices that benefit both the environment and their communities.
What Is America Recycles Day?
America Recycles Day, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is an annual event that encourages Americans to get involved in recycling. The goal is simple: educate and inspire everyone to reduce waste, recycle responsibly and embrace more sustainable practices in our daily lives. This year, we’re proud to join the EPA in spreading awareness and taking action to make a lasting impact.
Why Recycling Matters
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste, conserve resources and minimize our environmental footprint. According to the EPA, the average American generates about 4.9 pounds of waste per day, but only about 32% of it gets recycled. That means a lot of valuable materials are ending up in landfills instead of being repurposed.
By recycling more, we can save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources like timber, water and minerals.
The Home Depot’s Commitment to Recycling
At The Home Depot, we’ve long embraced recycling as part of our commitment to sustainability. We offer in-store recycling programs for items like batteries, cardboard and even plastic bags, helping you recycle these materials safely and responsibly. These programs include:
- Metal Recycling: We recycle metal from appliances, returned products and scrap metal, diverting over 171,000 tons of metal from the landfill in 2023 alone.
- Plastic Recycling: The Home Depot recycles both soft plastics like plastic film and used consumer shopping bags, and hard plastics like returned shelving and storage totes. These materials are repurposed into products like composite decking and fencing.
- Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling: The company recycles EPS Foam from appliance packaging, diverting 12.9 million pounds in the last three reported years.
- Cardboard Recycling: All cardboard from The Home Depot’s stores and distribution centers is baled and sold to be made into recycled-fiber moving and storage boxes. Learn more about our Eco Actions Partner and supplier of 100% post-consumer recycled-fiber moving and storage boxes, Pratt Industries.
How You Can Get Involved on America Recycles Day
America Recycles Day is a perfect opportunity to take small, meaningful steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Know What to Recycle: Check your local recycling guidelines to ensure you’re recycling the right materials. Some items – like plastic bags and certain electronics – may require special drop-off locations. If you want to find out how to recycle items beyond the curb, check out the EPA’s guide to common recyclables.
- Start at Home: Create a recycling station in your home to make sorting materials easier for everyone. Label bins for paper, plastic, glass and metal, and make it a family-friendly activity to separate items after use.
- Repurpose Old Items: Before tossing something out, think about how you can reuse or repurpose it. For example, turn old wood pallets into garden planters or upcycle furniture with a fresh coat of paint.
- Spread the Word: Encourage friends, family and neighbors to participate in America Recycles Day. The more people involved, the bigger the impact we can make together.
Join Us in Building a Sustainable Future
At The Home Depot, we believe every action counts. Whether you’re recycling everyday household items or tackling a home renovation with sustainable products, every step you take makes a difference. This November 15th, let’s work together to build a more sustainable future – one project, one recycled item, at a time.
