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. WAX-
MAN) 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 nat-
ural 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 meth-
ods, 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 environ-
ment;
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 envi-
ronment 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 ex-
pensive than other means of managing such waste;
Whereas recycling reduces both the demand on limited land-
fill capacity and the amount of solid waste intended for
incineration;
Whereas the success of source reduction and recycling pro-
grams 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 ad-
vantages 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 re-
cycled materials in new consumer products and the pur-
chase 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 mate-
rials in packaging and manufacturing;
Whereas consumers should be encouraged to purchase prod-
ucts that are manufactured or packaged using recycled
materials;
Whereas, in order to maintain the economic viability of recy-
cling programs and the economic incentive to recycle at
the Federal, State, and local levels, there must be an ade-
quate market for recycled materials and a demand for
products made from recycled materials;
Whereas Federal, State, and local governments should en-
courage the growth of markets for materials recovered
from recyclable goods, particularly through such govern-
ments’ 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 Na-
tion’s environmental spirit and its commitment to the re-
newal of the planet through global ideals and local ac-
tions; and
Whereas it is appropriate to observe Earth Day through a
national commitment to recycling and to the use of recy-
cled 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
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That April 1994 is designated as ‘‘National Buy Recycled
Materials and Products Month’’, and the President is au-
thorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling on
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the people of the United States to observe the month with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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