The Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change (“Subcommittee”) of the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on June 30th titled:
No Time to Waste: Solutions for America’s Broken Recycling System (“Hearing”)
The Hearing provided an overview of various issues associated with recycling in the United States such as:
- Common recyclables
- Critical role of recycling in the United States economy
- Contributing 681,000 jobs
- $37.8 billion in wages
- $5.5 billion in tax revenue
- Municipal solid waste generated in the United States
- Disposition of municipal solid waste
- 23.6% recycled
- 8.5% composted
- 11.8% incinerated to generate electricity
- 50% landfilled
- Impact of the pandemic on recycling
- Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (bipartisan infrastructure law’s role)
- Authorities addressing recycling
The Hearing also discussed three pending bills:
- H.R. 8059 – Recycling and Composting Accountability Act
- H.R. 8183 – Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2022
- H.R. 1512 – Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s Future Act
Hearing witnesses included:
David Allaway
Senior Policy Analyst
Department of Environmental Quality
State of Oregon
Lynn Hoffman
Co-President of Eureka Recycling
National Coordinator of the Alliance of Mission Based Recyclers
Stephanie Erwin
Director of Circular Economy
American Sustainable Business Network
Yvette Arellano (they/them)
Founder and Executive Director
Fenceline Watch
William Johnson
Chief Lobbyist
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
Matt Seaholm
Chief Executive Officer
Plastics Industry Association
A link to the witnesses’ written statements and Subcommittee Memorandum can be found here.
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