[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 46 (Monday, November 22, 1999)]
[Pages 2387-2388]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7250--America Recycles Day, 1999

November 15, 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.
    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.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 16, 
1999]

[[Page 2388]]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
November 17.