Jay Katari is Helping to Lead Recycling Efforts in Florida

Florida residents generate approximately 32 million tons of municipal solid waste every year.  Although recycling education and awareness has been going on for the past two decades, much work is still required.   In 2009 Floridians diverted 8,482,964 tons or 29% of Municipal Solid Waste from the landfill through recycling.In an effort to reduce waste and accelerate recycling efforts in the Sunshine State, the Florida Legislature passed the Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008 establishing a new statewide recycling goal—reduce the disposal of recyclables 75% by 2020.

Jay Katari Highlights the Importance of Paper Recycling

Guess what – Americans are pretty good when it comes to paper recycling.  But many don’t really understand why that is such a good thing or what it means.  So when you recycle all that paper you in the blue bin beside your desk in the office, think about this:

Jay Katari on Textile Recycling

I want to talk about textiles.  The textile recycling industry, representing approximately 2,000 companies, removes from the solid waste stream 2.5 billion pounds of post-consumer textile product waste every year.

Between 1990 and 2003, the United States exported nearly 7 billion pounds of used clothing and worn textile products around the world, according to the World Trade Atlas. The average American throws away about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per year.  Imagine if some of those clothes could be used to help poor and underprivileged children and adults in our country and abroad.

Jay Katari: Fun With Family

I have a wife named Kimberly, whom I married 14 years ago in Boca Raton, Florida. Iam the father of four great sons. I have a 12 year old, twin 8 year old and a 6 year old. Ever since I was a child, the thing I have always valued most has been my family.

Since I have been a parent, I have always put my children and my wife first. It doesn’t matter how much work I have to get done or what I have planned, the needs of my wife and kids has and always will come first for me. My son Blake was diagnosed with Autism on September 11, 2006 and my life and the life of my family has never been the same since.
When my wife and I got the diagnosis from my son’s neurologist, we felt lost and helpless and maybe felt a little sorry for ourselves at the same time. Since 2006, our family has pulled together to help Blake become all that he can be. Blake has achieved so much over the past five years and is an inspiration to us and everyone he meets.  He has learned to talk, to use the bathroom and he has learned to express his emotions and show love and affection for his family. I am so proud of all the hard work my wife, and Blake’s therapists have put forth as I can now see the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel with Blake and it is shining bright.
When life gives you lemons you have a choice to make and my family chooses to make lemonade.