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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 18, 2021 10:42 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Melissa L. Shusterman and Rep. Christopher M. Rabb |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Recycling - Extended Producer Responsibility |
| With the rise of internet shopping, we are receiving more packages than ever. The convenience of shopping online rather than visiting a store means more packaging is necessary to protect the things shipped to our doorsteps. In order to protect these items, sellers use multiple types of packaging – and quite a lot of it. While some of these materials are recyclable and can be thrown in a recycling can and taken to the curb, there are many materials that are not recyclable or wind up in communities in which curbside recycling is not available. Add in the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on municipalities and their ability to fund things like recycling programs and what we end up with is these packing materials in the trash or polluting our communities. To address this issue, I will be introducing legislation to create an Extended Producer Responsibility program in Pennsylvania. This program would require companies that manufacture packaging products to be registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and create a recycling procedure for the products they sell within the Commonwealth. With limited tax revenue and reduced funding from the state for recycling programs, municipalities should no longer have to shoulder this burden on their own. With the help of the private sector, we can take a step towards ensuring a clean and sustainable future for Pennsylvania. Please join me in support of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1873