KEY DATES
2026 Daily Themes
November 15 - 21, 2026
Each year, the PLASTICS Recycling Committee identifies daily themes to help guide Plastic Recycling
Week content. These themes provide a framework for organizing educational posts shared by participating organizations and may also be used as inspiration for your own campaign content throughout the week.
May 31, 2024
Nomination period opens
August 2, 2024
Nomination period closes
August 5 – 16, 2024
Nominations are judged
Week of August 19, 2024
Winner is notified
October 7 – 11, 2024
Winner is announced during Bioplastics Week
TBA
Winner is presented at a future PLASTICS sustainability event
View the Official Rules of the Award Program
2024 Supporters
We strive to engage with a wide range of representatives from the plastic recycling industry to help amplify the messaging of Plastic Recycling Week. These Supporters are companies and organizations that collaborate with the Recycling Committee on educational content creation and develop content of their own to share throughout the week. They also broaden the scope of this campaign by encouraging their network of peers to participate.
To participate, follow the event hashtag #PlasticRecyclingWeek.
Post, like, and share content throughout the week!
Each year, Plastic Recycling Week reaches thousands of industry professionals, students, policymakers, educators, and consumers through engaging educational content, videos, graphics, success stories, and expert perspectives. By providing fact-based information and highlighting real-world solutions, the campaign helps increase public understanding of recycling, builds confidence in the recycling system, and empowers individuals to make informed decisions that support a more circular economy. The collective impact extends far beyond the week itself, helping to foster greater awareness, stronger participation, and continued momentum toward improving recycling outcomes.
6th Annual Plastic Recycling Week
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a signatory of the EPA’s America Recycles Pledge,
which commits us to “participate in an ongoing
dialogue to identify specific actions that we can take collectively with EPA and the other signatories, and within our respective organization, to improve the nation’s recycling system.” The #PlasticRecyclingWeek educational campaign is one of the many activities we organize to reach this goal.
Celebrating America Recycles Day
Join in by posting with the hashtag #PlasticRecyclingWeek on your social media accounts. Share your thoughts and experiences with plastic recycling! Your messaging can be focused on your industry perspective or come from personal anecdotes.Posts can include educational content about material or product innovations, applications for recycled plastic, barriers and opportunities for growing recycling rates, how to dispose of plastic products properly promoting a circular economy… the list goes on! Use our daily themes (below) for inspiration!
How to Participate
Follow the hashtag on #PlasticRecyclingWeek LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook to learn about plastic recycling! Be sure to re-share posts you find interesting or useful!
#PlasticRecyclingWeek
Each morning of Plastic Recycling Week, we’ll be sending out a “daily digest” email to recap the top posts from the day before and give an overview of what to expect and how to engage for the upcoming day. Sign up to stay informed!
Sign Up For the Daily Email
We Love Recycling!
Subscribe for Updates
We look forward to continued collaboration on the improvement of collection,sortation, reprocessing, and market demand of and for recycled plastic. If you want to get more engaged in making these improvements, no matter which segment you fall under, reach out to us at PLASTICS at sustainability@plasticsindustry.org!
Sunday
Nov. 15
National Recycling Day / Recycling 101
Kick off Plastic Recycling Week
by exploring the fundamentals of recycling. Through
easy-to-understand resources, videos, and infographics, we'll
break down how recycling works, why it matters, and the role it plays in creating a more circular economy.
Monday
Nov. 16
How Consumers Can Improve Recycling
Recycling starts at home. Learn how simple actions— such
as knowing what belongs in the recycling bin, understanding labeling systems, and following local guidance—can help improve recycling outcomes and reduce confusion throughout the system.
Tuesday
Nov. 17
Stabilizing Demand for Recycled Content
A strong recycling system depends on strong markets. This day highlights
the growing demand for recycled materials,
the policies and commitments driving investment, and the products and
brands successfully incorporating recycled content into everyday applications.
Wednesday
Nov. 18
Investments and Improvements in Recycling Technology
Innovation is helping expand what can be recycled and how efficiently materials are recovered. Discover the technologies, infrastructure investments, and facility upgrades that are increasing recycling capacity, improving material quality, and strengthening the recycling value chain.
Thursday
Nov. 19
How Well-Crafted EPR Can Improve Recycling
Well-crafted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs are creating new opportunities to expand recycling access, improve collection systems, and invest in infrastructure. Explore how thoughtful EPR policies can help strengthen recycling systems and accelerate progress toward a more circular economy.
Friday
Nov. 20
Improving Trust and Transparency in Recycling
Building confidence in recycling requires clear communication, reliable data, and honest conversations about both successes and challenges. This day examines how the industry is addressing common misconceptions, improving transparency, and helping consumers, policymakers, and brands better understand recycling realities and outcomes.
Saturday
Nov. 21
Industry Collaborations
No single organization
can improve recycling alone. From educators and recyclers to brands, researchers, and industry associations, collaboration is driving meaningful progress. Join us as we highlight partnerships, workforce development efforts, and collective initiatives helping shape the future of recycling.