[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 122 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 122


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 14, 2007

 Received and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
        Supporting the goal and mission of America Recycles Day.

Whereas America Recycles Day is on November 15th of each year;
Whereas America Recycles Day is an annual national awareness event, the mission 
        of which is promoting the social, environmental, and economic benefits 
        of recycling and buying recycled-content products;
Whereas the goal of America Recycles Day is to increase the purchase of 
        recycled-content products and recycling throughout America;
Whereas Americans have a long tradition of recycling;
Whereas in 1896, the first recycling center was established in New York City, 
        and, by 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency had set a national 
        waste reduction and recycling goal, and 26 States had enacted laws 
        making recycling an integral part of their solid waste management plans;
Whereas in 2003, homes, businesses, and institutions in the United States 
        produced more than 236,000,000 tons of municipal solid waste;
Whereas this amounts to approximately 4.5 pounds of waste per person in the 
        United States per day, and is almost triple the amount of municipal 
        solid waste generated in 1960;
Whereas the Environmental Protection Agency reports that 30 percent of municipal 
        solid waste is recovered for recycling or composting, 14 percent is 
        incinerated, and the remaining 56 percent is discarded in landfills;
Whereas a significant amount of this disposed solid waste can be recovered for 
        recycling or composting through source separation, mechanical 
        separation, and community-based recycling programs;
Whereas recycling saves energy, which in turn can reduce American dependence on 
        foreign oil and prevent pollution; reduces the need for certain natural 
        resources; can create more jobs; can cost communities less than other 
        waste disposal options; supplies valuable raw materials to industry; 
        stimulates green technology development; and reduces the need for new 
        landfills and combustors;
Whereas over the past 10 years, many new markets for recycled products have been 
        created, including remanufacturing plastic containers into other plastic 
        containers, fleece, carpet, car parts, strapping, stuffing, bottles, 
        pipe, lawn and garden products, injection molded products, and plastic 
        lumber;
Whereas while there are many new markets for recycled products, community 
        curbside pickup programs have decreased and recycling rates for certain 
        recyclable household products, like plastic and aluminum containers, 
        have decreased or stayed the same;
Whereas Federal, State, and local governments should encourage increased 
        recycling of recyclable household products; and
Whereas there remains significant opportunity to increase recycling in the 
        United States, and Americans should be encouraged to participate in 
        endeavors that promote waste separation methods, community-based 
        recycling programs, and expanded utilization of recovered materials: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goal and mission of America Recycles Day; 
        and
            (2) encourages all Americans to participate in promoting 
        the social, environmental, and economic benefits of recycling 
        and buying recycled-content products.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 13, 2007.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.