UPDATE: Recycling Reminder Hits Cyberspace

Danielle Jackson

This year, those celebrating America Recycles Day (ARD) on Nov. 15 have another way to spread the word about recycling's benefits: e-mail reminders.

Developed by John Lemmon Films, electronic cards (e-cards) are designed to be used by municipal governments, state solid waste departments and anyone else with a passion to promote recycling. The cards feature HenryCycle, a clay-animated recycling mascot designed to appeal to children and adults.

John Lemmon Films licensed the e-card greetings to ARD, a non-profit organization, which makes the cards available on the website www.americarecyclesday.org. Individual state ARD coordinators and volunteers can use the cards as part of their promotion efforts.

“It's a good thing for both of us,” John Lemmon says of the partnership. “We [and ARD] really believe in doing everything we can to help our environment. It's good to bring these two strong programs together.”

This year marks the second anniversary for the e-card partnership, although HenryCycle has been around since 1991. The campaign initially began with one television public service announcement (PSA) and grew to include nine PSAs, plus costumes, trading cards, activity books and a 23-minute animated video for schoolchildren.

Just one of many ARD programs, e-cards are sponsored nationally by a partnership of non-profit organizations and corporations such as Houston-based Waste Management Inc. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C.

So far this year, ARD has hosted a national PSA campaign and has created celebrity radio promotions with actors such as Jeff Bridges and Tony Randall. ARD also has a program where people can pledge to recycle.

The John Lemmon Films partnership further increases ARD's visibility in the community.

“We are hopeful that visitors to the America Recycles Day website … will use the HenryCycle greetings to share the news about ARD with friends and colleagues,” says Pablo Collins, ARD's board chair. “It's an amusing and lighthearted way to get the word out.”

To send an e-card greeting, visit www.americarecyclesday.org, click on a HenryCycle e-card image and send a customized greeting for free. Browsers also can link to ARD through John Lemmon Films' website, www.jlf.com.