Sunday, November 15 is America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle 
and to buy recycled products. Celebrating its 12th year, it has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials.
Recycling is a standard practice at the National Aquarium. With 1.4 million visitors a year and a staff of nearly 300, there is plenty of waste to be recycled at the Aquarium. We are committed to recycling and each year our efforts grow! In honor of America Recycles Day, we are holding a special recycling themed contest. For a chance to win an Eco-Aquarium prize pack, please read below:
How much does the Aquarium recycle?
Here are some of our recycling numbers from 2008:
- 56 tons of plastic, glass, aluminum recylced through Waste Management.
- 21,832 lbs of cardboard recycled through Waste Managment.
- 200 lbs of techotrash through Green Disk. Together with Green Disk, the Aquarium recycles CDs, DVDs, floppy disks, cords, handheld devices and other pieces of technological garbage. For more information,
- Hundreds of pounds our old computers, tvs, printers and other electronic devices were given to charities through CDM eCycling in Baltimore -Second life cycle program.
If you noticed, one very important item is missing from that list. Paper! Can you guess how many pounds of paper the Aquarium recycled in 2008?
Please post your guess in a comment to this post. The contest will end at noon (12:00 p.m. EST) on Monday, November 16. The person with the answer closest to the actual amount of paper recycled will win an Eco-Aquarium prize pack that includes an Aquarium themed reusable bag, water bottle, and lunch tote!
Good luck and happy recycling!
I’d guess about 9 short tons of paper were recycled.
-Ryan
500 pounds of paper?
9 tons (U.S. tons)
As I notice the question calls for the answer in POUNDS, my previous answer of 9 U.S. tons would convert to 18,000 lbs.
18,000 pounds of paper
My guess is about 25,000 pounds.
70 tons
423 tons!?!
I’m going to say 32,047lbs.
87,23lbs
I have no idea, but I’ll guess about the same as the cardboard, 21,000 lbs.
My guess is 30 tons of paper was recycled in 2008 at NAIB.
10,612 lbs of paper recycled.
I am guessing the Aquarium recycles 500 pounds of paper in a year?
50,000 lbs of paper.
31.52 tons
I’m going with 100,000 lbs of paper.
I would guess the Aquarium recycles 40,000 pounds of paper.
around 45,000 lbs of paper? maybe?
Thanks for your efforts. I am just starting an effort to reduce the number of small water bottles produced by encouraging the use of reusable, non-reactive bottles. Project #1 is dive boats in Cozumel Mexico. If you have any tips alomg these lines please advise me. cowboy
16,250 lbs Bob!
A big thanks to everyone who participated in our contest. In 2008, the Aquarium recylced 9 tons, or 18.000 lbs of paper!
It looks like we have three winners. Congratulations to Charlie, Kevin, and Ryan for guessing the correct number. Look out for an email from the Aquarium with details about your prize.