FACT: Twenty years ago, almost 1,000 curbside recycling programs existed in the United States. Today there are more than 10,000 across the nation.

FACT: Today, the U.S. recycles 32 percent of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.

FACT: In 2005, Americans discarded up to 2.2 million tons of unwanted electronics — 80% of it in landfills.

FACTS: Recycling:

• Prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
• Saves energy
• Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
• Creates jobs
• Encourages development of greener technologies
• Conserves resources for our children's future
• Reduces the need for new landfills and combustors

FACT: If America's recycling rate for aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging increased by 10%, we would save enough energy to provide electricity to 1.8 million Americans for an entire year.