1Celebrating 25 years of successful recycling and urging the
2Department of Environmental Protection to review its
3recycling programs and report any recommendations for
4improvements.

5WHEREAS, Statewide recycling in Pennsylvania began in 1988 
6with the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction 
7Act, which requires larger municipalities to recycle; and

8WHEREAS, Today, more than 11.6 million residents, at least 
994% of the State's population, have access to recycling; and

10WHEREAS, In 2011, this Commonwealth recycled over 5.85 
11million tons of resources; and

12WHEREAS, The materials Pennsylvanians recycle save more than 
13150 trillion British thermal units of energy and cut more than 
1415 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air 
15annually; and

1WHEREAS, By converting waste into valuable products, 
2recycling creates jobs, contributes feedstock to manufacturing 
3and adds significant value to the entire United States economy;
4and

5WHEREAS, Our waste reduction and recycling activities can 
6also make a difference in problems such as hazardous waste, 
7endangered species, acid rain and the municipal waste crisis;
8and

9WHEREAS, While Pennsylvania has done an outstanding job
10creating and implementing effective recycling programs to date,
11the Commonwealth continues to seek improvements in its recycling
12law; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate 25
14years of successful recycling in this Commonwealth; and be it
15further

16RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the people
17of Pennsylvania to continue to excel in their recycling efforts;
18and be it further

19RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
20Department of Environmental Protection to review its recycling
21programs and report any recommendations for improvements to the
22chairperson and minority chairperson of the Environmental
23Resources and Energy Committee within one year of the passage of
24this resolution.