[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 46 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Pages 1680-1681]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7503--America Recycles Day, 2001

November 15, 2001

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    We must preserve our natural heritage by serving as good stewards of 
our land. Recycling helps to serve this important function by conserving 
our natural resources as we reuse them where we can. Recycling 
safeguards our environment and helps keep America beautiful for present 
and future generations.
    The United States generates more than 230 million tons of municipal 
solid waste every year, which amounts to four and a half pounds of trash 
per person per day. However, thanks to the efforts of the American 
people, we are now recovering more than 64 million tons of usable 
material annually, and that rate has doubled since 1990.

    Successful recycling includes not only the collection of materials, 
but also the manufacture of new products and the purchase of recycled 
content products. Buying products made of recycled materials contributes 
to domestic energy conservation and ultimately, a cleaner environment. 
For example, recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a 
television set for three hours. Recycling a ton of glass saves the 
equivalent of 9 gallons of fuel oil, and recycling solid waste prevents 
the release of 37 million tons of carbon into the air--roughly the 
amount emitted annually by 28 million cars.
    As more products made with recycled materials reach the marketplace, 
individual consumers, corporations, and Federal agencies are purchasing 
these goods as cost-effective and responsible business solutions. Such 
items may range from recycled content paper, retread tires, and re-
refined oil, to concrete and insulation containing recycled materials.

    Our Nation is making great progress by recycling, but we can and 
must do better. America Recycles Day 2001 represents a partnership among 
Government, industry, and environmental organizations to promote 
recycling and to encourage the participation of all our citizens. As 
part of the event, the Federal Government hosted a poster contest for 
the children of Federal employees to help raise awareness in the 
Government, and across the Nation, of the need to continue protecting 
the environment by recycling. All Americans can help ``Close the 
Recycling Circle,'' by recycling products in our homes, schools, 
offices, and communities, and also by purchasing products made from 
recycled materials. These recycling and remanufacturing activities help 
conserve resources and also stimulate our economy by creating jobs and 
revenue.

    Last year, more than 3 million people in all 50 States and 2 U.S. 
territories committed to reduce, reuse, and recycle more and to buy 
recycled products. For America Recycles

[[Page 1681]]

Day 2001, I encourage all Americans to build on these achievements by 
recycling and by purchasing and using products made from recycled 
materials. These responsible actions can help protect our environment 
and conserve natural resources for the benefit of all.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2001, as 
America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States to 
observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day 
of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
sixth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 19, 
2001]

 Note:  This proclamation will be published in the  Federal Register  on 
November 20.