Why is it that that only 1 in 5 Americans recycle in the bathroom in comparison to nearly 7 out of 10 who recycle around the house? A study commissioned by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies was recently conducted by Shelton Group. The results may be able to give us some insights that will help unravel this unanswered question.
Recycling is a collective effort of individuals across the world in hopes of preserving the Earth’s natural resources. Although massive changes in our attitudes toward recycling has made global impacts, there is one area where we have all failed; the bathroom. Congratulations on making great strides in the right direction, however, we still have a way to go!
Care To Recycle
As part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies initiative to raise awareness, the Care To Recycle Campaign helps remind individuals to recycle common bathroom products. Emerging as the slogan for their movement, Johnson & Johnson reminds us that “Our babies will inherit our Planet.”
The Care to Recycle Campaign is different from other environmental awareness movements because of the fact that it is being hosted exclusively on social media; tumblr to be exact. Take a moment to watch the Care To Recycle video by JNJ above! The goal is simple; help people recognize the many bathroom products that you can recycle.
Why Don’t We Recycle in the Bathroom?
So what’s really the reason that we don’t recycle in the bathroom? Well, the answer is not as complex as you might think. When you take a step back and ignore all of the “scientific” debate, you’ll begin to realize that people simply don’t think about recycling in the bathroom! Here are some discouraging numbers that we are hoping to change:
- 40% of Americans do not recycle in the bathroom at all
- 22% Reported that they had never thought about recycling in the bathroom
- 20% Of respondents didn’t even know that bathroom products were recyclable. (Incredible!)
How We Can Do Our Part
In the kitchen, its common to have a separate bin for recycling. In fact, dual trash bins with a place for recyclables and general trash are readily available. What if this same idea was transferred into the bathroom? All of those empty shampoo, hand-soap, and lotion containers can be recycled and reused again! This will help to reduce the unimaginable amount of trash that is picked up and dropped at local landfills everyday!
Plenty of awareness has been raised about recycling at home. In many communities, blue recycling bins have become standard issue of the city’s waste and recycling program! Many people have made a conscious effort to separate plastics out in the kitchen to toss into the “blue bin.” What if we all did the same thing in the bathroom?
Take a 30 day challenge and see just how much “junk” you can take out of our natural environment! Remember, the world has limited resources and it is up to us to preserve them. Achieving this goal cannot be accomplished by a single individual; it takes a large scale effort by family, friends, neighbors, community members, regional organizations, and concerned American citizens. Help spread the word by mentioning Care To Recycle to a friend. “Like,” Share, or Tweet this post by clicking on the Social Media Buttons to your right. Each small action can result in the butterfly effect so get on the horn!
Ready to do your get started? Learn how to donate your old bathroom cabinets to Habitat for Humanity and recycle your bathroom counter top from your recent remodeling project!
About this Post
This post was written for Tradewinds Imports by Cheryl Khan who is a contributing editor to the TWI Blog. Cheryl is passionate about social and environmental movements. She never hesitates to spread the word in hopes to promote a more cohesive and sustainable environment for all human beings!
