The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), Sonoma, Calif., and the International Bottled Water Association
(IBWA), Alexandria, Va., have applauded a recycling-related Senate resolution that was introduced in early August.
Senate Resolution 251: Expressing Support for Improvement in the Collection, Processing and Consumption of Recyclable Materials throughout the United States,has been co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Carper and Olympia Snowe, the co-founders of the U.S. Senate Recycling Caucus.
The resolution expresses support for “the improvement of collection, processing and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the United States” and for “policies in the United States that establish the equitable treatment of recycled materials.”
Dennis Sabourin, NAPCOR executive director, says, “The adoption and implementation of strong public policy is critical to reinvigorating domestic recycling. NAPCOR supports this resolution and continued leadership in this area.
“We also anticipate that the many benefits of recycling that the resolution details – whether resource and energy conservation, feedstock, domestic jobs and infrastructure – will be brought to bear on other relevant federal policy discussions moving forward,” Sabourin adds.
Joe Doss, IBWA president and CEO, says, “The bottled water industry supports effective recycling and environmental conservation policies. We are pleased to see this effort to help build upon the growing public momentum to increase recycling rates nationwide by spelling out its many economic and energy-saving benefits. Any efforts to increase recycling while reducing the environmental impact of packaging must be broad-based and focus on all consumer goods, as this resolution does, and not target any one industry.”
When introducing the resolution, Carper said, “Increasing the amount we recycle is a simple, yet effective, way to help our economy and our environment by better managing our limited resources. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, our country has greatly improved our recycling habits. From 1970 to 2000, we increased our collective municipal recycling rate from just 6 percent to over 28 percent. Yet in the past decade, our country’s improvement in our recycling behavior has slowed. Anything I do I know I can do better, and I know that our nation can continue to do better when it comes to recycling. I am proud to introduce this resolution today with my Senate colleagues to show our support for recycling and recognize its tremendous value to our economy and our environment.”
Snowe added, “Recycling is one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods to save energy, reduce landfill waste, and supply our manufacturing and construction industries with low-cost materials. Recycling is a major industry in the United States, and we should continue to grow the companies that are improving our environment and employing Americans. I applaud Sen. Carper for his efforts to promote recycling and look forward to demonstrating the U.S. Senate’s support for the recycling industry by passing this resolution.”
In addition to NAPCOR and the IBWA, the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Paper Recycling Coalition (PRC), the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), the Environmental Paper Network, the American Forest and Paper Association, the Aluminum Association and Recycling Organizations of North America have all voiced their support for the resolution.
Source : www.recyclingtoday.com
