[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9543 of November 14, 2016

America Recycles Day, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Having only one planet and limited natural resources, it is imperative
we reduce our environmental impact--particularly when it comes to waste.
More than half of everything we throw away gets permanently discarded,
packing landfills across our country with trash that can take centuries
to decompose and provides no utility. Today, we resolve to raise
awareness of the important role that reducing, reusing, and recycling
can play in achieving a more sustainable future.
Recycling is a process that allows materials that would otherwise be
thrown out to be manufactured into new materials that can be used again.
By decreasing landfill waste and conserving important natural resources,
recycling can mitigate pollution, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Many items such as paper, plastics, and batteries are
commonly known to be recyclable, but many other products--including oil
and tires--can also be recycled. In addition to helping reduce our
environmental footprint, recycling also strengthens our economy and
creates hundreds of thousands of green jobs. To learn more about what
can be recycled and ways to encourage recycling in your community, visit
www.EPA.gov/Recycle.
People of all ages can do their part by reducing waste and reusing
items. In our homes we can compost food and yard waste rather than
sending it to a landfill; in schools we can utilize reusable containers
for storing lunches and school supplies; and in workplaces we can print
more documents double-sided and on recycled paper, or opt for digital
copies rather than printing in the first place. The Federal Government
is doing our part to lead by example--from helping businesses purchase
recycled materials to assisting grocery stores, schools, and stadiums
with reducing their food waste, we are striving to give businesses,
States, and local governments the resources they need to encourage
recycling across our Nation.
One of the most important things we can do with our time on Earth is to
make it better for future generations. On America Recycles Day,

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we renew our commitment to making environmentally conscious changes in
our lives so that our children and grandchildren can live that better,
cleaner future. Let us continue striving to reduce waste, conserve
resources, and meet our obligations to our planet and to future
generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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, 2016, as
America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
observe this day with appropriate programs and activities, and I
encourage all Americans to continue their reducing, reusing, and
recycling efforts throughout the year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
BARACK OBAMA