KEY DATES
2024 Daily Themes
November 11 - 15
Each year, the PLASTICS Recycling Committee establishes themes to focus on for each day during the week. This helps to organize the educational content posted from participant channels – feel free to use them as guidelines for your posts as well!
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
Monday
Debunking Myths & Presenting Facts
We are kicking off Plastic Recycling Week with a critical discussion on common misconceptions surrounding plastic recycling, focusing on separating myths from facts.
Misinformation in the media has led to widespread confusion about the recyclability and environmental impact of plastics. Our campaign aims to clarify these issues by presenting accurate, data-driven insights.
On Monday, we will provide industry responses, supported by facts, to address and dispel these myths.
Tuesday
A Closer Look at Plastics’ Environmental Edge
Plastic is a highly sustainable material—requiring less water and energy to produce, reducing carbon emissions due to its light weight, and offering durable packaging that protects products. Additionally, plastics can be recycled repeatedly.
On Tuesday of Plastic Recycling Week, we'll dive into the environmental benefits of plastics and share data-driven comparisons with other materials.
Wednesday
Mastering Recycling at Home
Despite the significant emphasis on plastic recycling, the system remains complex and often confusing due to its localized nature. The guidelines for what can be recycled in the blue bin vary widely from city to city.
On Wednesday, we will offer educational materials designed for all ages, including detailed guides and informative graphics that highlight the benefits of recycling. We encourage you to share these resources with friends and family and to share your own home recycling experiences with us!
Thursday
The Human Impact of Recycled Plastics
Recycled plastics are driving innovation across various industries—from packaging and medical supplies to clothing and beyond. These products are integral to our daily lives.
On Thursday, we will highlight the people behind plastic recycling and the significant impact they have on our world. Through compelling stories, we’ll explore how recycled materials are transforming products, supporting local communities, and advancing a circular economy.
Friday
Industry Partnerships and Their Impact
The plastic industry is increasingly focusing on collaboration to enhance recycling efforts. From joint ventures between manufacturers and recyclers to innovative programs that foster circular economy practices, these collaborations are key to overcoming recycling challenges and driving progress.
On the last day of Plastic Recycling Week, we will delve into how industry partnerships are playing a pivotal role in advancing plastic recycling.
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!
#PlasticRecyclingWeek is a social media-driven event that was piloted in 2021 and continues to this day. This annual, weeklong campaign rallies over 300,000 participants to share meaningful messaging about plastic recycling, successes and challenges, recyclers experience, and how we can all help to improve the recycling system in the US.
4th 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!
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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!