Opportunities
For recycling to work, everyone has to participate in each phase of the loop. From government and industry, to organizations, small businesses, and people at home, every American can make recycling a part of their daily routine. Below are some ways in which businesses, local governments, and citizens can get involved:

Businesses

• Visit the Web site for EPA's WasteWise program.
• Get involved with your local or state recycling organization. For a list of state organizations, visit the National Recycling Coalition's Web site.
• Buy recycled-content products. Visit EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for lists of manufacturers of recycled-content products.

Local Governments

• Improve the efficiency of your collection program. EPA's Getting More for Less: Improving Collection Efficiency (PDF) (45 pp, 880K, about PDF) (EPA530-R-99-038) explains several important strategies for improving efficiency as well as case studies of communities that have reaped the benefits of improved solid waste collection.
• Practice full cost accounting (FCA). Visit the FCA Web site for more information on using FCA to assist with identifying and assessing the costs of solid waste management.
• Identify opportunities to increase recycling rates. Visit Pennsylvania's Web site for examples of local government projects in Pennsylvania to help meet or exceed the state's 35 percent recycling goal. Also, view EPA's guidance on measuring the success of your state or local recycling program.

Citizens

• Recycle at home. Find out if there is a recycling program in your community. If so, participate in the program by separating and putting out your recyclables for curbside pickup or taking them to your local drop-off or buy-back center.
• Shop smarter. Use products in containers that can be recycled in your community and items that can be repaired or reused. Also, support recycling markets by buying and using products made from recycled materials.

• Recycle on the Go! Look for recycling places in public spaces. If you can't find a recycling place, ask the responsible authority to look into installing one so you can recycle on the go.

Fund Raising Ideas and Opportunities

You mean I can actually use recycling for possible fund raising ideas? 

Is there anything better in the entire world than doing something that...

	helps the environment
	conserves energy
	energizes the economy
	and makes you money while doing it?

I sure can't think of anything. Don't get me wrong, I doubt you can get rich recycling, but it can provide useful for fund raising ideas and opportunities.
Instead of your little leaguer or band member going door to door selling their various goodies to raise money for uniforms, why not coordinate a recycling drive?
Does your church group need to raise money for building repairs or a choir trip? Instead of relying on cash donations, set up a collection bin for church members to donate recyclable goods.
This is where you can get your creative juices flowing and begin to understand how incredibly powerful and beneficial recycling actually is.
Fund raising ideas and opportunities exist for:

• Church groups
• Youth groups
• Schools
• Sports Teams
• Bands
• Scouts
• Non-Profit Agencies
• Charity Work
• Disaster Relief
• Clubs
• Special Events
• Political Action Committees
• Arts Foundations
• Museums
• anyone else interested in raising funds

And guess what, there are multiple methods you can tap into to start earning those $$ and hugging a few trees in the process.

Sources: A Recycling Revolution website, U.S. Environment Protection Agency website.