SWANA Supports RECOVER Act Introduced in Congress

Federal Recycling legislation is necessary to improve recycling infrastructure and reduce contamination

Silver Spring, MD – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is proud to support the bipartisan Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Values of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act introduced by United States Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN). This important and timely legislation will allow communities across the United States to improve recycling through infrastructure upgrades and community outreach.

“SWANA is pleased to support the RECOVER Act again, and there is growing interest on both sides of the aisle in addressing recycling this year in Congress. Providing funding to local governments and others to support municipal recycling programs is essential,” stated David Biderman, SWANA’s Executive Director and CEO.

The RECOVER Act allocates $500 million in matching federal grants to eligible states, local municipalities, and tribal governments to invest in improving their recycling infrastructure, programs, and education efforts. SWANA thanks Representatives Cárdenas and Bucshon for their leadership on this issue and urges Congress to pass this legislation to ensure that recycling remains economically and environmentally sustainable for generations to come.

“The RECOVER Act is the next logical step in providing the necessary financial assistance to local, regional, and tribal governments to improving the infrastructure to keep the promise alive of converting enhanced recycling and waste diversion efforts into a vision of ‘turning waste into resources.’ This vision is a central part of SWANA’s strategic plan for assisting in the national goal of 50% diversion of materials from landfills,” said Tim Flanagan Vice President of SWANA.

SWANA also supports the Recycling Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education (RECYCLE) Act introduced on March 23, 2021, that would create a new federal grant program through EPA to help educate households and consumers about their residential and community recycling programs. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Dean Phillips (D-MN). U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) are original cosponsors of this legislation.

SWANA urges Congress to approve legislation that will support the efforts of communities throughout the United States to improve and increase the recovery of valuable materials from the municipal solid waste stream.

To learn more about SWANA’s advocacy initiatives, visit https://swana.org/advocacy.