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TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE HOUSE RECYCLING BUILT

Release Date: 10/21/1999
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, (415)744-1588

     Massive National Campaign Launched for America Recycles Day

     SAN FRANCISCO -- Ever wonder what happens to that newspaper, plastic bottle, or aluminum can after you tossed it into the recycling bin?  Now you can see for yourself with a new feature of the www.americarecyclesday.org web site, which offers a "Virtual Tour" of the first American Green Dream House, a $200,000 home built primarily with recycled content materials.  Plus, the site offers the chance to win a similar home and other great prizes.

     The house, a monument to the availability and quality of recycled products, was recently completed near Kempner, Texas.  It was a dream come true for the family of Sgt. First Class Robert Portillo.  Sgt. Portillo won the house after his pledge to recycle his beer cans and motor oil was drawn for the first America Recycles Day.  Last year, Laurie McKee of Rhode Island won the second Green Dream House out of 2.1 million pledges.

     The construction materials, like steel framing and roofing made from recycled steel cans, drywall and insulation made with recycled newspapers, carpeting from recycled plastic soda bottles, wiring with recycled copper, and windows with recycled glass, are all being donated, along with the labor and $35,000 for land.

     1999 sponsors include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Postal Service, The Home Depot, The 100 percent Recycled Paperboard Alliance, the Remanufacturing Industries Council International and Waste Management, the Steel Recycling Institute, National Soft Drink Association, Resource Concepts, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, a partnership with the National Recycling Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, National Recycling Coalition, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Recycling Coalition of Texas, Solid Waste Management Association of North America and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

     This year a third American Green Dream House will be given away in a drawing.  Participants in thousands of America Recycles Day events may fill out and submit pledge cards that will be entered into the Year 2000 house drawing. Other prizes will be awarded in December 1999.

     Pledging information is available at www.americarecyclesday.org  The EPA contact for America Recycles Day is Timonie Hood at 415-744-1113.