Oct. 2
Recyclers and one of the nationīs largest labor unions are applauding a provision in the Kerry-Boxer climate bill that would encourage recycling.
The Clean Energy, Jobs and American Power Act contains a section that would require the EPA to establish a program to provide states with funds for encouraging recycling. The provision would require that a portion of the funds the government collects from a greenhouse gas cap and trade program would be distributed to the states to encourage county and municipal recycling programs and assist eligible recycling facilities and eligible manufacturing facilities engaged in recycling.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Senate is recognizing the important contributions of recycling toward reducing greenhouse gases, which is central to the goals of climate change legislation," said Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. "Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by significantly lowering the amount of energy needed to manufacture the products that we buy, build and use."
In addition, recycling helps create green jobs, she said. More than 85,000 people across the nation work in the scrap recycling field, she said.
Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at 330-865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com
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