Bill Text: WV SR21 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expressing support for recycling
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-03 - To Judiciary [SR21 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-SR21-Introduced.html
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 21
(By Senators Unger, Klempa, Chafin, Foster, Jenkins, Beach, Stollings, Laird and Browning)
Expressing support for improvement in the collection, processing and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the State of West Virginia.
Whereas, Maximizing the recycling economy in the State of West Virginia will create and sustain additional well-paying jobs, further stimulate the economy of the state, save energy, and conserve valuable natural resources; and
Whereas, Municipal recycling rates in the United States have steadily increased from 6.6 percent in 1970 to 34 percent in 2010; and
Whereas, Forty-six states, including the State of West Virginia, have laws promoting the recycling of materials that would otherwise be sent to a landfill; and
Whereas, Recycling stimulates the economy and plays an integral role in sustaining manufacturing in the United States; and
Whereas, In 2010, the United States recycling industry collected, processed, and consumed over 130 million metric tons of recyclable material, valued at $77 billion; and
Whereas, In 2010, the recycling industry in the United States sold over 44 million metric tons of commodity grade materials, valued at $30 billion, to over 154 countries; and
Whereas, Using recycled materials in place of raw materials can result in energy savings of ninety-two percent for aluminum cans, eighty-seven percent for mixed plastics, sixty-three percent for steel cans, forty-five percent for recycled newspaper, and thirty-four percent for recycled glass; and
Whereas, A 2011 study titled “More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U. S.,” prepared by Tellus Institute, concluded that nearly 1.5 million more recycling jobs would be created if the national recycling rate reached seventy-five percent by 2030. The report also concluded that higher recycling rates produce, in general, 10 to 20 times more jobs than land filling; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate expresses support for improvement in the collection, processing and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate supports improvement in the collection, processing and consumption of recyclable material throughout the State of West Virginia in order to create well-paying jobs, foster innovation and investment in the state’s recycling infrastructure, and stimulate the economy of the state; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for strengthening the manufacturing base in the State of West Virginia in order to rebuild the domestic economy, which will increase the supply, demand, and consumption of recyclable and recycled materials in the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support to the West Virginia Public Service Commission and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to permit resource recovery facilities in the state as a means to increase the collection of recyclable materials and the utilization of solid waste as a resource rather than land filling; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for policies in the state that promote recycling of materials and the use of solid waste as a resource rather than sent to a landfill; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for policies in the State of West Virginia that recognize and promote recyclable materials as essential economic commodities, rather than wastes to be land filled; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for new technologies to more efficiently and effectively recycle materials; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that the recycling industry in the State of West Virginia is a manufacturing industry that is critical to the future of the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for the participation of households, businesses, waste haulers and governmental entities in the State of West Virginia in recycling and resource recovery programs, where available.
