SOLID WASTE: Lawmakers rally around industry recycling proposal

By E.A. Crunden and Jacob Wallace | 2/5/21 | E&E News

Lawmakers and industry advocates unveiled a sweeping legislative plan yesterday aimed at streamlining recycling systems nationwide.

Members of the Recycling Leadership Council, a group helmed by the Consumer Brands Association, announced the "Blueprint for America's Recycling System" during a press conference.

The plan's main goal is to encourage greater federal leadership in order to harmonize the thousands of municipal recycling systems across the United States.

"The piece that we think really needs action now is that national perspective, federal leadership. That's the piece of that holistic puzzle that we're calling for now," said Meghan Stasz, vice president of packaging and sustainability at the Consumer Brands Association.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers who spoke during the press conference said there was an opportunity for action this year to improve the nation's recycling systems.

"There's very strong interest in making sure our recycling system succeeds," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who called for hearings looking into the transparency around recycling.

He also backed paying "particular attention to plastics in this context" and highlighted the issue of marine debris, a growing problem for coastal states.

Republicans similarly offered full-throated endorsements of the new proposal. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) called progress on recycling "good wins," while Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) referenced the potential for recycling to serve as a post-pandemic economic and environmental opportunity.

"While much of the world slowed down, we've seen large increases in waste collection across the country," said Boozman, noting that progress on recycling is "not a Democrat or Republican thing" but rather about "doing the right thing." Read More >>