IA

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. J. RES. 350

Designating April 1994 as ‘‘National Buy Recycled Materials and Products

Month’’.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 12, 1994

Mr. MORAN (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. KLEIN, and Mr. WAXMAN) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

JOINT RESOLUTION

Designating April 1994 as ‘‘National Buy Recycled Materials

and Products Month’’.

Whereas the use of recycled materials saves the Nation’s natural resources and reduces costs;

Whereas the government and people of the United States

should be encouraged to participate in educational and

legislative endeavors that promote waste separation methods, community-based recycling programs, and expanded

utilization of materials recovered from recycled products;
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Whereas recycling can save energy and avoid the pollution

created by extracting resources from the natural environment;

Whereas the generation of hazardous and solid wastes must

be reduced, and as much remaining waste as possible

must be recycled, to protect human health and the environment and to minimize problems concerning waste

treatment and waste disposal capacity;

Whereas recycling is the most environmentally sound method

of managing municipal solid waste, and often is less expensive than other means of managing such waste;

Whereas recycling reduces both the demand on limited landfill capacity and the amount of solid waste intended for

incineration;

Whereas the success of source reduction and recycling programs depends on the participation of an informed

public;

Whereas recycling has expanded so that 1⁄3 of all Americans

participate in curbside recycling programs, and increasing

numbers of businesses are recognizing the economic advantages of recycling;

Whereas recycling efforts have improved across the United

States, from an overall recycling rate of approximately 10

percent in 1986 to a rate of approximately 17 percent in

1990;

Whereas the Nation still needs to increase both the use of recycled materials in new consumer products and the purchase of recycled products;

Whereas many consumer products are now manufactured

using recycled materials;
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Whereas the Nation must now focus on using recycled materials in packaging and manufacturing;

Whereas consumers should be encouraged to purchase products that are manufactured or packaged using recycled

materials;

Whereas, in order to maintain the economic viability of recycling programs and the economic incentive to recycle at

the Federal, State, and local levels, there must be an adequate market for recycled materials and a demand for

products made from recycled materials;

Whereas Federal, State, and local governments should encourage the growth of markets for materials recovered

from recyclable goods, particularly through such governments’ own increased procurement of recycled products;

Whereas Earth Day, which occurs in April, is celebrated in

the United States as an annual observance of the Nation’s environmental spirit and its commitment to the renewal of the planet through global ideals and local actions; and

Whereas it is appropriate to observe Earth Day through a

national commitment to recycling and to the use of recycled materials, by conserving natural resources, reducing

hazardous and solid wastes, and increasing government

support for and public awareness of recycling efforts:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That April 1994 is designated as ‘‘National Buy Recycled

4 Materials and Products Month’’, and the President is au5 thorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on
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1 the people of the United States to observe the month with

2 appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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