[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                              S. Res. 422

       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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