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National Recycling Day

Make a difference on National Recycling Day - reduce, reuse, and recycle to help protect the environment and conserve natural resources!

Sunday

November 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATENovember 15

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYNature

SUBCATEGORYConservation

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate National Recycling Day on November 15 and join in the global effort to reduce waste! This day was first created in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, who declared that “Recycling is a personal responsibility of every American.” Since then, recycling has become an important part of our everyday lives as we strive for a more sustainable future for generations to come.

TIMELINE

National Recycling Day Timeline

Creation of National Recycling Day

President Ronald Reagan declares the first National Recycling Day to highlight the importance of recycling.

Recycling Act

Congress passes the Solid Waste Disposal Act, marking a commitment by the U.S. government to recycling and waste management.

Curbside Recycling Spreads

Curbside recycling becomes mainstream in major cities across America, increasing the ease and accessibility of recycling for citizens.

Electronic Waste Recycling

Recycling programs begin to address electronic waste as tech devices become increasingly common in households.

Global Recycling Movement

The Global Recycling Foundation is established, promoting and supporting National Recycling Day initiatives worldwide.

Recycling During COVID-19

Despite the pandemic's challenges, cities find innovative ways to continue recycling programs and educate individuals on its importance.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Recycling Day

Compost food scraps

Composting is an easy and effective way to recycle organic materials like food scraps, paper towels, and more. Just create your own compost bin at home or find a local composting program.

REUSE

Reuse items

Reduce the need to buy new items by finding creative ways to reuse what you already have. For example, old t-shirts can be turned into reusable grocery bags and worn jeans can be turned into shorts.

DONATE

Donate usable items

Rather than throwing out usable items, donate them to a local charity or thrift store. This is a great way to help those in need and reduce waste.

RECYCLE

Recycle paper, plastic, and cans

Make sure you are recycling any paper, plastic, and cans that you use. These materials can easily be recycled through your curbside recycling program.

SHOP

Shop secondhand

Save money and resources by shopping at secondhand stores for clothes, furniture, and other household items. You never know what hidden gems you might find!

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Recycling Day

It creates jobs

The recycling industry is an important part of many economies around the world, providing jobs and economic opportunities to thousands of people. By participating in National Recycling Day, you can help create more job opportunities while doing your part to help protect the environment!

It helps protect the environment

Recycling helps reduce waste and prevent pollution by ensuring that materials and resources are reused rather than discarded. This not only helps to conserve the environment, but it can also save money by reducing the need for new materials or resources.

It promotes sustainability

Recycling is one of the best ways to promote sustainability for generations to come. By encouraging people to reuse and repurpose materials, we can help make sure there are plenty of resources for future generations to use as well.

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