The City of Ann Arbor is helping the community celebrate America Recycles Day by hosting an event where families can construct bird feeders using their empty two-liter plastic bottles.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon, come to the city’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), at 4150 Platt Road with your own two-liter bottle. Other materials and starter seed will be provided during the workshop.

This open house will also include optional tours of the recycling plant floor. Groups of five or more, such as scout groups, are requested to call 734-794-6000 ext. 43118 to make a reservation for this event. The program, activity and optional recycling plant tours take about an hour, total.

Since 1997 the nationwide observation for America Recycles Day (ARD) is held on Nov. 15. Throughout the month of November, citizens are encouraged to take (or renew) an online pledge to recycle at www.americarecyclesday.org and use this website to learn more about the benefits of recycling and buying recycled-content items. Communities, classrooms, and groups are also encouraged to provide special events to support America Recycles Day.

Free monthly MRF Open Houses give the public a chance to tour Ann Arbor’s recycling operations and participate in featured activities. For more information, please consult the city’s website at www.a2gov.org/mrf. Pre-arranged weekday tours of the MRF are also available for groups of 15 or more; please call for information: 734-794-6000 ext. 43118.

Nicole (Lowen) Berg is the MRF education center and special projects coordinator at the City of Ann Arbor. Nicole can be reached at nlowen@a2gov.org. Visit www.a2gov.org for more information on local environmental topics including recycling, composting, water conservation, and choices for green living.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County’s Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.