A Global Recycling Day to ‘promote action on recycling around the world’ has been scheduled for Sunday 18 March 2018 – the organiser, Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has announced today.
BIR, which is spearheading the initiative, has claimed that recyclables should be recognised as the ‘seventh most important natural resource’ water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals.
BIR has been leading efforts to establish a Global Recycling Day
Global Recycling Day will raise awareness of recycling and ‘enhance the perception that recycling is about creating a clean and sustainable environment’, BIR has said.
The organisation, which is currently holding its World Recycling Convention & Exhibition in Hong Kong, has been advocating a global day of action to promote recycling for a number of months.
An unrelated ‘International Recycling Day’ was recently held on 17 May 2017, although the initiative was met with little fanfare.
BIR began a project in 2016 to lead the development of a Global Recycling Day, and in January launched a dedicated website for the project as well as a petition to endorse the initiative – which has attracted 266 supporters.
Promotion
BIR president Ranjit Baxi said that the Bureau will be promoting the project through a number of initiatives and calls for action throughout the year.
The Global Recycling Day in 2018 will also coincide with BIR’s 70th anniversary.
He said: “I am delighted to be announcing this very important date. We want to use this day to promote action on recycling around the world. Our members, who rank amongst the most prestigious recycling companies in the industry, want to take ownership of this powerful initiative. We were the first global trade body to be created and therefore our 70th anniversary is a fitting date for such an important event.
“I am delighted to be announcing this very important date. We want to use this day to promote action on recycling around the world. ”
Ranjit Baxi
BIR
“We want people to think ‘resource’, not ‘waste’. There are 7 billion people on this earth, and if we can just get 10% of these people to make one positive recycling change on Global Recycling Day, it will have a massive impact.”
Mr Baxi added: “We want to raise awareness amongst the public regarding this seventh resource and enhance the perception that recycling is about creating a clean and sustainable environment for us and for future generations.
“We must also acknowledge that without the huge skills and expertise of the recycling industry, this seventh resource would not have been accessible.”
Director general
Announcement of the date for the first Global Recycling Day comes as BIR also revealed the appointment of Arnauld Brunet as director general from 1 June 2017.
Mr Brunet previously headed Sony Europe’s Brussels Office, managing the company’s relationship with the European institutions and with European trade associations.
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Source: letsrecycle.com General
