EARTH ANGEL

Municipal solid waste includes everything thrown away in waste receptacles, and a “shocking amount” ends up in landfills, according to the Hot Springs Solid Waste Department.

“By ensuring we recycle conscientiously, as well as educating ourselves on how to improve recycling rates, we can significantly reduce waste,” the department says.

Here are the facts and figures on landfill practices:

• In the U.S., there are currently more than 2,600 MSW landfill sites, and about one-third of landfill space is taken up with packaging materials.

• On average, Americans produce about 4.51 pounds of trash in a day, or the equivalent of about 1,800 pounds of waste a year. The daily waste generation is about 728,000 tons.

• Americans only recycle about 67.2 million tons of MSW, which is less than a quarter of the possible 267.8 million tons of total MSW. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that around 75% of all waste is recyclable.

Registration for the Earth Angel Recycling Program is available online at http:// www.cityhs.net/recycle-registration or by calling the Solid Waste Department at 501-321-6911.

For the yearly recycling schedule, visit http://www.cityhs.net/recycledays.

Last week, the Earth Angels of Hot Springs recycled:

257 pounds — Aluminum cans.

70,820 pounds — Commercial cardboard.

2,893 pounds — Corrugated cardboard.

334 pounds — Newspaper. 841 pounds — Plastic grades No. 1 and No. 2.

33,840 pounds — Yard waste and C.A.P.S.

Last week, a total of 54.49 tons of recyclable materials were kept out of the landfill.

Collection schedule Today — Hobson Avenue/ Plain Street.

Monday — Quail Creek Road/Lotus Loop.

Tuesday — James Street/ Millcreek Road.

Wednesday — Park Avenue/Magnolia Street/Circle Drive.

Thursday — Oaklawn Park/Pine Meadows.

Friday, March 3 — Whittington Avenue/Quapaw Avenue-Prospect Avenue.