To designate April 1989 as "National Recycling Month".
PL 101-16 (H.J.Res.102), enacted 04/19/1989

PUBLIC LAW 101-16—APR. 19, 1989 
103 STAT. 43 
Public Law 101-16 
101st Congress 
^ 
Joint Resolution 
To designate April 1989 as "National Recycling Month". 
*^^' 
' 
[H.J. Res. 102] 
Whereas a solid waste disposal crisis exists in the United States; 
Whereas half of the major cities in the United States will have no 
space available for disposal of garbage within 4 years; 
Whereas trash incineration and non-incineration industries should 
adopt recycling methods; 
Whereas source separation, mechanical separation, and community-
based recycling programs divert a significant portion of waste 
from landfills; 
Whereas recycling preserves limited landfill capacity for disposal of 
nontoxic waste; 
Whereas recycling saves energy and avoids the pollution created in 
extracting resources from their natural environment; 
Whereas the revenues from goods recovered by public sector re-
cycling programs help to offset the costs of the programs; 
Whereas shared savings, which accrue by avoiding the higher cost of 
landfills or incineration, make recycling an economically efficient 
disposal policy even where markets for recycled materials are 
weak or undeveloped; 
Whereas a well-developed system of recycling scrap metals, paper, 
and glass already exists and significantly reduces the quantity of 
solid waste composed of metal, paper, and glass; 
Whereas substantial increases in the amount of materials recycled 
will require development of markets that absorb the increase in 
the amount of materials recycled, known as incremental markets; 
Whereas many consumer products are designed without sufficient 
regard for safe and efficient recycling after disposal; 
Whereas the Federal Government and State and local governments 
should enact legislative measures that will increase the amount of 
solid waste that is recycled; 
Whereas the Federal Government and State and local governments 
should encourage the growth of incremental markets for mate-
rials recovered from recyclable goods; 
Whereas the Federal Government and State and local governments 
should promote the design of products that can be recycled safely 
and efficiently after use; 
Whereas the Federal Government and State and local governments 
should establish requirements for in-home separation of waste to 
enable efficient recycling; and 
Whereas the 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 recovered materials: Now, therefore, 
be it 
-;-"s*.-'S 
103 STAT. 44 
PUBLIC LAW 101-16—APR. 19,1989 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That April 1989 is 
designated as "National Recycling Month", and the President of the 
United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe the month 
with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 
Approved April 19,1989. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H 
J. Res. 102 (8 
J. Res. 61): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 135 (1989): 
Mar. 23, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 5, S 
J. Res. 61 considered and passed Senate. 
Apr. 6, HJ. Res. 102 considered and passed Senate.