Celebrate World Recycling Day at Abt
Happy World Recycling Day! Today is the perfect time to reflect on your environmental footprint and think about how your daily habits affect the world around you. On average, about 4.9 pounds of trash are produced by a single person every day. This is just under 1,800 pounds per year, and when you multiply that by the 8.3 billion people on Earth...that number grows quite fast. That's why it's important to think about what you're throwing away and whether it can be recycled.
While some items might decompose in a few years, others, such as Styrofoam, can take over 1,000 years to biodegrade. Recycling is not only a great way to reduce what goes into landfills, but it also helps conserve the natural resources we have. Recycled goods have been labeled as the "seventh resource," as they are limitless and renewable. For example, metals can be melted down and reshaped, glass is reformed and plastics are reprocessed into new goods. These processes often require less energy than using raw or new materials, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Driven by Dedication, Powered by Sustainability
Being an eco-friendly company isn't just something we talk about here at Abt; it's a fundamental part of how we operate. In the past, we required garbage pick-up every day. Now, we only need it once per week—even with over 1,000 employees and hundreds of daily customers. This achievement wouldn't be possible without our on-site Recycling Center. Over the past year, our center has processed about 4.6 million pounds of cardboard and paper, over 800,000 pounds of Styrofoam, over 24 million pounds of appliances and about 1.4 million pounds of electronics. Instead of being sent to a landfill or local dump, many of these items have been transformed into new products, reconfirming just how powerful the seventh resource is.
In addition to our Recycling Center, we've found more ways to reduce our impact and leave a smaller environmental footprint. Our rooftop solar array includes 6,080 panels, producing an impressive 2.6 megawatts of electricity. We also use rainwater to supply our irrigation system and LED bulbs to light up our store, which use about 80% less energy compared to traditional lights. Finally, we have a Tesla Megapack battery at our Recycling Center, which stores sustainable energy for any backup power we might need.
Using Our Recycling Center
To help keep our planet green, we want to make recycling convenient for everyone. That's why our Recycling Center is open to the public, giving you the chance to recycle common items instead of throwing them away. Unfortunately, we cannot accept everything. Below, we’ve listed out which items you can bring and which ones we can’t accept.
Things You Can Bring:
- Wood Pallets
- Cardboard
- Paper
- Styrofoam (White Only, No Food Containers)
- Plastic (Industrial Wrap Only)
- Certain Appliances and Electronics (More Details Below)
We Do Not Accept:
- Glass
- Light Blubs (Including Christmas Lights)
- Broken Tube TVs
- Ink and Toner Printer Cartridges
- Household Batteries (i.e., AAA, AA, C)
- CDs, DVDs and VHS Tapes
- Water or Air Filters
- Styrofoam Packing Peanuts
- Plastic Bags (Local Grocery Stores)
Our Recycling Center also accepts old appliances and electronics for a small fee. Explore our Green Initiatives to learn more about recycling your home/kitchen appliances and other small devices. If you're unable to bring your larger items, such as a refrigerator, to our site yourself, our team will haul them away with no additional charge. Unsure if something can be recycled at Abt? Give us a call at 800-860-3577 and our team will be happy to help and answer any questions you have. When you arrive with your items, please visit our Merchandise Pickup desk for assistance.
Join Us in Going Green!
While World Recycling Day is a great time to pay attention to what you're throwing away, we should try to be mindful throughout the year. Join us in our mission to reduce waste and support a healthier planet. In addition to recycling, there are countless ways to lead a more sustainable life, such as investing in Energy Star appliances or opting for reusable items, like water bottles. Curious about how else you can go green? Check out our article on eco-friendly habits to discover more ways you can make your home and daily life more energy-efficient.
Abt Recycling Center FAQs
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Our Recycling Center is open during store hours.
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Our Recycling Center accepts wood pallets, cardboard, paper, white styrofoam and industrial plastic wrap. You can also bring old appliances and electronics for a fee.
