Thursday is "America Recycles Day", a day recycling officials hope will bring more awareness about the importance of recycling.

Marika Smiley with Rethink Waste in the Environmental Center says Deschutes County residents do a pretty good job of recycling; but it could be better.  "We are actually ahead of the national trend here in Deschutes County. Our recycle rate is actually 45%, compares to the national rate of 34%. And continually here in Deschutes County we come up with new ways to recycle and reuse different supplies and products."

Smiley says recycling is a multibillion-dollar industry that employs millions of Americans.

She hopes people will visit their website:  www.rethinkwasteproject.org and sign a pledge to recycle more and enter to win some prizes.