Easy Numbers

I don’t trust numbers. I spent the whole fourth grade learning that division and multiplication are totally opposite operations only to discover that 10 x 1 = 10 and
10 ÷1 = 10. And zero throws all kinds of kinks in an equation. My checkbook never balances and I can’t figure out what percent daily value of nutrients I get from a cup of coffee. But even a mathphobe can find the positive in some numbers. The number of items collected through Easy As One events is one such number.

On Earth Day 2010, DEP launched Easy As One, a public awareness initiative to encourage citizens to adopt more sustainable habits that protect our air and water quality, conserve water and reduce waste. As of today, we’ve diverted tons of paper and electronics, beaucoup cell phones and chargers and truck loads of plastic bags, meds and ammunition from landfills.

Item Collected                      Amount Collected                           

Paper                                       73,400 pounds
Plastic retail bags                 40,980
Cell phones                            1,311
Cell phone chargers             1,512
Meds                                         33,100 bottles + 1,113 pounds + 383,483 pills
Ammunition                             645 pounds
Electronics                               74,232 pounds

Easy As One will continue to host events throughout the year and we hope you will continue your green efforts and expand your repertoire of easy actions that reduce waste, conserve water and protect air and water quality. Thank you to those who brought items we were collecting to our events. One simple action, like participating in Easy As One events, has lead to extraordinary results.