The recycling system in the U.S. has come a long way, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. According to The Balance Small Business, Americans recycle more paper products than what ends up in landfills. The nation’s paper industry had a goal of achieving a 60% scrap paper recovery rate by 2012, which it reached three years early. That said, America’s recycling system still requires much improvement. Could legislation’s two-pronged plan help?
The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act
Most recently, the Senate passed the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, which represents a great step forward when it comes to reducing the world’s environmental impact. Its main target is to boost the current national recycling rate, which is not as high as it should be. The Act plans to implement a tailored national residential composting strategy with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as state, local, and tribal governments.
The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act
The Senate also recently passed the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act. This Act gives the EPA the authority to grant competitive awards to ensure recycling is more accessible, especially in underserved communities. Essentially, the Act is geared toward enhancing recycling infrastructure development. The move has largely been lauded as a great way to advance the country’s recycling infrastructure capabilities. Overall, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, like its counterpart, is a much-needed improvement to America’s recycling system. If done right, it will help ensure the efficient collection, sorting, and recycling of all suitable material.
What Does the Future Look Like for America’s Recycling System?
Both the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act and Recycling and Composting Accountability Act are being referred to as legislation’s two-pronged plan to address the current recycling system in America. The passage of these bills through the Senate has been largely heralded as auspicious, especially since infrastructure limitations have prevented people from adopting recycling initiatives, especially in rural areas.
These bills are designed to strengthen the country’s progress in this area and encourage more and more Americans to embrace the concept of recycling. If there’s one thing that key industry players and members of the Senate can agree on, it’s that there’s a greater need than ever to mend America’s recycling system. Hopefully, this two-pronged approach will provide the required momentum.
The truth is that America’s “broken” recycling system can be fixed if everyone does their part. You can start by contacting our residential and commercial trash company to learn more about our recycling programs.
