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Enact National Recycling Standards

Floor Speech

Date: June 5, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Food Processing and Sales Environment

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, there are more than 9,800 local recycling programs following different standards in the United States. There is no coordination.

Cities and counties are struggling, and recycling is at risk of collapsing. Increasingly, recyclable plastics and papers are going to landfills and incinerators, and poisoning our oceans and waterways.

It is time for a national recycling strategy to harmonize standards across the country, strengthen markets, and reduce contamination in the recycling system.

Leadership is needed from Congress to work with stakeholders to make recycling environmentally and economically sustainable.

For example, it is time for a standardized national system of labeling. Every household, business, school, park, and stadium should be using a universal, standardized labeling system that reduces contamination in the recycling stream and enhances the market viability of recyclable materials.

As citizens and consumers, Americans want recycling to work. It is time for Washington to get to work to make recycling work.

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