A resolution 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.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 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. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES NOVEMBER 14, 2019 Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mr. BOOZMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing November 15, 2019, as ‘‘America Recycles Day’’ and expressing the sense of the Senate that recycling promotes a healthy economy and responsible environ- mental stewardship. 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 val- ued at approximately $200,000,000,000; Whereas diverting 75 percent of waste in the United States from landfilling and incineration to recycling by 2030 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:20 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR422.ATS SR422 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 422 ATS 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 munic- ipal 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 ac- counted 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 (1) recognizes November 15, 2019, as ‘‘America 2 Recycles Day’’; 3 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:20 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR422.ATS SR422 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 422 ATS (2) acknowledges that recycling benefits and 1 strengthens the economy, environment, and commu- 2 nities of the United States; and 3 (3) encourages the people of the United States 4 to be cognizant of their environmental footprint and 5 to incorporate additional recycling practices into 6 their daily lives. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:20 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR422.ATS SR422 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS