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CELEBRATE AMERICA RECYCLES DAY ON NOVEMBER 15, 1998

Release Date: 11/5/1998
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1588

Win the House Recycling Built

     People from across the country will have the opportunity to win an "American Green Dream House" as part of the celebration of America Recycles Day on November 15, 1998.

     By making a pledge to buy recycled products and recycle more, Americans 18 and over will become eligible to win the "American Green Dream House" in a random drawing.  You can enter this contest via the Internet at www.americarecyclesday.org or by visiting a local America Recycles Day event.

     According  to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA), the average American produces more than four pounds of waste every day.  As a nation we throw away over 200 million tons of garbage each year.
 
     We have a 27 percent national recycling rate, but there's more we can do.  Purchasing products made with recycled content supports markets for finished products made from the recyclable steel, aluminum, glass, paper, and plastic materials that we place at the curb or in drop-off facilities.

     A terrific example of the great use of recycled content materials is the "American Green Dream House." This new, three-bedroom, two and one half bath home is valued at $200,000.  The two-story
contemporary design features: a master bedroom with a large walk-in closet; an eating bar between the kitchen and dining room; a large family room; a loft overlooking the living room; and a two-car garage.

     What's unique about this house is that it's built primarily from recycled-content materials -- those steel cans, glass jars, plastic soda bottles, aluminum cans, cereal boxes and newspapers we regularly place at the curbside or drop-off at the recycling center. The design also incorporates energy-efficient materials and features solar heating.
     
    For local America Recycles Day events in Arizona contact Mitra Khazai, Arizona Recycling Coalition at (520) 791-4069 or www.cleanup.org/AzARD . In California contact Jim Kuhl, California Founding Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America at (562) 570-2850 or www.ca-recycles.org , and in Hawaii contact Carrie McCabe, Hawaii Department of Health at (808) 586-4240.

   National sponsors include the EPA, U.S. Postal Service, Browning Ferris Industries, The Home Depot, the Remanufacturing Industries Council International, The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance, Steel Recycling Institute, and Union Camp Corp.

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