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After the first Earth day in 1970, Americans embraced the idea of recycling, but the appeal has declined over the past few years. From 1990 to 1995, recycling increased by 10%, but from 1995 to 1999, recycling increased by only 2%. Currently, about of household trash is recycled. However, Americans are consuming more, and the average person generates 4.6 pounds of garbage each day, about two pounds more than in 1960. To prevent common trash from being sent to landfills, New York City accumulates 1,600 tons (3,200,000 pounds) of trash each day as part of the largest recycling program in the U.S., but the city may suspend the collection of bottles and cans to save money. Recycling is very important to the economy as it employs over one million Americans, but that may change since many recycling facilities are running at a deficit, including the nations largest recycling facility which is running at 40 to 50% of its capacity.
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