What Can You Do to Make a Difference?

1. Recycle!
There may be lots of things that adults can do better than kids, but recycling isn't one of them. If you check the plastics in your house for the #1 symbol and recycle, you'll be doing your part for the environment.

2. Teach Your Family to Look Out For #1!
Does your family know how to spot PET plastic? Make sure that everyone in your house knows the proper way to recycle and don't let them throw PET bottles in the trash.

3. Get Your School Involved!
Does your school have an organized recycling program? If not, why don't you start one? Ask your science teacher to help you and get your friends involved, too!

4. Learn More About Recycling!
Different communities collect different recyclable materials. Be sure to ask your parent or teachers to check with your local recycling program to find out which materials are accepted in your area.

Fun Facts about PET

• The PET bottle was patented in 1973 by chemist Nathaniel Wyeth (brother of distinguished American painter Andrew Wyeth).
• The first PET bottle was recycled in 1977.
• An estimated 9,400 curbside collection programs and 10,000 drop-off programs collect PET plastic in the United States, currently.
• Approximate number of PET beverage bottles per pound:
  16 oz. -- 18 bottles per pound
  20 oz. -- 16 bottles per pound
  1 liter -- 12 bottles per pound
  2 liter -- 9 bottles per pound
  3 liter -- 5 bottles per pound
• Cubic yards conserved in a landfill by recycling PET beverage bottles:
  4,800 recycled 16-ounce bottles saves a cubic yard
  4,050 recycled 20-ounce bottles saves a cubic yard
  3,240 recycled 1-liter bottles saves a cubic yard
  2,430 recycled 2-liter bottles saves a cubic yard
  1,350 recycled 3-liter bottles saves a cubic yard
• Since 1978, manufacturers have reduced the weight of a two-liter bottle by about 29%, from 68 grams to 48 grams.
• Recycling a ton of PET containers saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.
• According to the EPA, recycling a pound of PET saves approximately 12,000 BTU's.
• The average household generated 42 pounds of PET plastic bottles in the year 2005.
• Custom bottles (which are bottles used for products other than carbonated soft drinks) represent 62% of all PET bottles available for recycling.
• Fourteen 20 oz. PET bottles yield enough fiber for an extra large T-shirt.
• It takes 14 20 oz. PET bottles to make one square foot of carpet.
• It takes 63 20 oz. PET bottles to make a sweater.
• Fourteen 20 oz. PET bottles yield enough fiberfill for a ski jacket.
• It takes 85 20 oz. PET bottles to make enough fiberfill for a sleeping bag.

Do You Know How to Recycle Properly?

It's more than just throwing the bottle in the recycling bin.
To be a real recycling superstar, you have to practice the THREE steps to recycling:

1. Remove the Cap
The next time you have an empty soda bottle, tighten the cap and then try to crush it. Not easy, is it? When PET bottles are sealed, they can withstand a lot of pressure without breaking or leaking. That's great for keeping your juice fresh and your soft drink fizzy, but when it's time to recycle, capped bottles are more difficult to crush and break down into recyclable materials.

2. Rinse and Flatten
Your recyclable bottles will be cleaned by machines when they reach the recycling facility, but it takes a lot of time and hard work. If you quickly rinse your bottles before you place them in your recycling bin, it makes your containers that much easier to recycle. And while you're at it, flatten your PET bottles by stepping on them. You will be able to fit more bottles in your bin, and the recycling truck will be able to carry more bottles, too.

3. Recycle!
This is the easy part! Just toss the bottles in your curbside recycling bin or take them to your local drop-off center.