It's a big day in the green space! Since November 15, 1997 communities have come together on this day to nationally recognize, promote, and celebrate recycling in the U.S. Here at eBay Green, we think America Recycles Day is akin to Earth Day - it's everyday. Having said that, we do love to use this day to remind friends, family, and our community about the benefits of recycling and work to motivate them to make these practices a part of their daily routine.

Our friends over at Earth911.com have taken a broad look at the history of recycling and have traced some major milestones (did you know that the first curbside recycling program started in France back in 1884?). While we've come a long way, our national recycling rate is still less than 40% - which means that there's some serious room for improvement!

Share with us the ways that you are working to increase your personal recycling rate, or the recycling rate of your community. Leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

For the full history of recycling in the U.S., read Leah Blunt's article on Earth911.com, the place to find solutions for products' end of life. Photo credit Amanda Wills.