As recycling stakeholders work to educate and encourage more consumers to recycle this Earth Day and every day, new research reveals that consumers don’t necessarily understand some of the language commonly used.

To help mark the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, hundreds of groups across North America have registered their events on earthday.org. Although numerous associations are doing their part to help fuel the environmental movement, consumers still are looking for guidance when it comes to one of the most common environmental practices: recycling.

The majority of consumers believe that product companies and their brands play a crucial role in recycling, according to a new poll conducted by New York-based Research Data + Insights (RDI) on behalf of the Carton Council of North America (CCNA), Vernon Hills, Ill. The consulting firm surveyed 1,000 adults from across the United States, and 86 percent of them responded that they expect food and beverage brands to actively help increase the recycling of their packages.

Forty-five percent of U.S. households now can recycle cartons through their curbside recycling programs and other recycling venues, the Carton Council of North America reports. This opportunity is due to a voluntary collaboration between private and public sectors that includes industry recycling facilities and local governments, the Vernon Hills, Ill.-based organization says.

According to the Carton Council, Vernon Hills, Ill., the number of households that have the ability to recycle cartons has increased 128 percent in three years.