[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62563-62564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30189]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 17, 1999 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 62563]]

                Proclamation 7250 of November 15, 1999

                
America Recycles Day, 1999

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Recycling is one of the great success stories in 
                America's crusade to protect our environment and 
                preserve our natural resources. Americans have 
                undergone a fundamental change in attitude about 
                recycling during the past 4 decades. Where most 
                Americans and many industries were once unmindful of 
                our resources and careless in disposing of waste 
                materials, people across our country now recognize the 
                importance of recycling and have made it part of their 
                daily routines. In 1996 alone, recycling nationwide 
                diverted a total of 57 million tons of material away 
                from landfills and incinerators--more than a quarter of 
                our country's annual municipal solid waste.

                Nonetheless, the recycling process is complete only 
                when recovered materials return to the market as new 
                products for purchase by consumers. The most effective 
                way we can ensure the continued success of recycling in 
                America is to expand markets for products that contain 
                recycled materials. Buying recycled products conserves 
                resources, reduces water and air pollution, saves 
                energy, and creates jobs. Producing 1 ton of paper from 
                recycled pulp saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill 
                space, and 7000 gallons of water. It also reduces air 
                pollutants by 60 pounds, saves 390 gallons of oil, and 
                conserves 4200 kilowatt hours of energy--enough to heat 
                a home for half a year. Estimates show that 9 jobs are 
                created for every 15,000 tons of solid waste recycled 
                into new products.

                The U.S. Government has helped promote recycling by 
                purchasing recycled-content products--in fiscal 1997 
                alone, we purchased $354 million worth of such 
                products. In September of 1998, I was proud to sign 
                Executive Order 13101--Greening the Government Through 
                Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition--
                which directed all Federal agencies to expand and 
                strengthen the Federal Government's dedication to 
                recycling and to buying products made with recycled 
                content. This responsible use of Government purchasing 
                power will not only help the environment, but will also 
                stimulate the growth of clean industries in the 21st 
                century.

                America Recycles Day unites business and industry, 
                environmental and civic groups, and local, State, and 
                Federal Government agencies to encourage recycling. 
                This partnership challenges all businesses and 
                consumers in America to increase their purchases of 
                recycled products, to boost their recycling efforts, 
                and to start new recycling programs. The theme for this 
                year's observance--``For Our Children's Future . . . 
                Buy Recycled Today''--reminds us of the profound and 
                long-term implications of the actions we take today. By 
                using products with recycled content and creating new 
                markets for such products, we will conserve America's 
                precious natural resources for the benefit of 
                generations to come.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 1999, as 
                America Recycles Day. I urge all Americans to observe 
                this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and 
                to take personal responsibility for the environment not 
                only by recycling, but also by choosing to purchase and 
                use products made from recycled materials.

[[Page 62564]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 99-30189
Filed 11-16-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P