On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Recycled Materials Association joined more than 60 trade associations, corporations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in sending a letter to congressional leaders calling for passage of two recycling bills before the end of the year.
The Recycling Infrastructure Accessibility Act (RIAA), introduced by Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA), introduced by Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE), intend to increase access to recycling services for rural and underserved areas, and also improve tracking of recycled material that is essential to the nation’s supply chain security, sustainable economy, and manufacturing base.
“ReMA applauds Senator Carper and Senator Capito for their leadership in building a resilient and sustainable recycling future,” said Kristen Hildreth, ReMA’s assistant vice president of government relations and strategic partnerships. “Their commitment to addressing the two top issues of recycling – residential collection and data – will ensure that we, as a nation, are able to provide a sustainable future for the next generation and secure access to the raw materials our manufacturing sectors rely on to grow and innovate.”
Both the RIAA and RCAA have bipartisan support and have advanced out of the Senate by unanimous consent in both the 117th and 118th Congresses. The bills have been endorsed by a broad coalition of stakeholders including manufacturers, consumer brands, trade associations, and environmental organizations.
According to the letter, every year, millions of pounds, and billions of dollars-worth, of valuable recyclable materials are landfilled including materials designated as critical by the Department of Defense.
“Beyond recycling’s inherent environmental advantages, manufacturers rely on recycled material to meet demand across sectors. More recycling is good both for the planet and for the broader manufacturing economy,” the letter notes. “According to The Recycling Partnership’s 2024 State of Residential Recycling Report, a mere 21% of recyclables are captured at the household level, among the lowest level of any advanced economy.”
Together, with other leaders in this space, we can advocate for solutions that support a circular economy and a better world for future generations.
Photo by René DeAnda on Unsplash.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Recycled Materials Association joined more than 60 trade associations, corporations,...