[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 422 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 422

    Recognizing November 15, 2019, as ``America Recycles Day'' and 
 expressing the sense of the Senate that recycling promotes a healthy 
           economy and responsible environmental stewardship.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 14, 2019

   Mr. Carper (for himself and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing November 15, 2019, as ``America Recycles Day'' and 
 expressing the sense of the Senate that recycling promotes a healthy 
           economy and responsible environmental stewardship.

Whereas recycling is among the top actions that people in the United States can 
        do to improve the environment and the economy of the United States;
Whereas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States, 
        only 21.4 percent of recyclable waste is recycled;
Whereas, in the United States, recycling is an industry valued at approximately 
        $200,000,000,000;
Whereas diverting 75 percent of waste in the United States from landfilling and 
        incineration to recycling by 2030 would result in the creation of 
        approximately 2,300,000 recycling jobs, nearly 2 times the number of 
        recycling jobs that existed in the United States in 2008;
Whereas the 2016 Recycling Economic Information Report by the Environmental 
        Protection Agency found, using 2007 as a base year, that recycling and 
        reuse activities--

    (1) accounted for approximately 757,000 jobs, 0.52 percent of all jobs 
in the United States;

    (2) produced approximately $36,600,000,000 in wages, 0.62 percent of 
total wages paid in the United States; and

    (3) produced approximately $6,700,000,000 in tax revenue, 0.90 percent 
of total tax revenue in the United States;

Whereas recycling conserves natural resources and fresh water;
Whereas recycling prevents waste and discarded materials from ending up in 
        oceans and waterways and harming water and wildlife;
Whereas, in 2015, approximately 67,800,000 tons of municipal solid waste were 
        recycled, in contrast with 137,700,000 tons of municipal solid waste 
        that were landfilled; and
Whereas, with respect to the 67,800,000 tons of municipal solid waste that were 
        recycled, paper and paperboard accounted for 67 percent, metals 
        accounted for 12 percent, and glass, plastic, and wood accounted for 
        between 4 and 5 percent: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes November 15, 2019, as ``America Recycles 
        Day'';
            (2) acknowledges that recycling benefits and strengthens 
        the economy, environment, and communities of the United States; 
        and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to be 
        cognizant of their environmental footprint and to incorporate 
        additional recycling practices into their daily lives.
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