PRINTER'S NO. 979
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
143
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, HUGHES, ARGALL, FONTANA, KEARNEY,
SANTARSIERO, YUDICHAK, BREWSTER, COMITTA, GORDNER, SABATINA,
MUTH, COSTA AND KANE, JULY 6, 2021
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JULY 6, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study and issue a report regarding recycling in
this Commonwealth and the feasibility of creating targeted
recycling economic development zone programs in this
Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, The act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as
the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act,
required municipalities with specified populations to implement
recycling programs; and
WHEREAS, Currently, 1,930 of Pennsylvania's 2,700
municipalities have a recycling program, serving 94% of the
population of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Recycling Partnership's 2020 State of Curbside
Recycling Report found that only 32% of materials are being
recycled nationally; and
WHEREAS, While that recycling rate might seem to be
acceptable, it does not approach the levels that many
policymakers hoped for and it masks some of the severe
challenges currently facing the recycling industry; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
WHEREAS, There is widespread agreement among business owners
in the recycling industry, recycling professionals, municipal
officials and environmental advocates that the recycling
industry now confronts a multitude of issues, including
dwindling markets, material contamination and escalating program
costs; and
WHEREAS, There are reports that recyclable materials are
simply being placed in landfills because markets for collected
materials are lacking; and
WHEREAS, The difficulties facing the recycling industry
nationally are consistent with the difficulties in this
Commonwealth, and this reality does not make sense economically
or environmentally; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report
regarding recycling in this Commonwealth and the feasibility of
creating targeted recycling economic development zone programs
in this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study explore ways of improving the
economic and environmental viability of recycling in this
Commonwealth, including enhancing markets for recycled materials
and developing recycling economic development programs in this
Commonwealth as other states have done; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study address how other states, such as
California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio, have recycling assistance
resources for businesses; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study:
(1) explore best practices in local government
contracting, such as zero waste authorities;
20210SR0143PN0979 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(2) examine methods of investing in local recycling
infrastructure;
(3) research how recycling can be structured to better
benefit local economies;
(4) examine material collection policy to address
highest and best use of materials, such as guidelines as to
what packaging producers can label as "recycled"; and
(5) examine public education strategies to reduce
contamination of materials in the recycling stream, which
makes it difficult for material recovery facilities to
economically bring materials to market;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
prepare a report of the findings and recommendations of the
study and submit the report to the Secretary of the Senate and
the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives within one year
of the adoption of this resolution.
20210SR0143PN0979 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17