CORREA INTRODUCES RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING MANUFACTURERS TO DESIGN FOR RECYCLING TO REDUCE WASTE, CONSUMPTION

Text of Resolution (PDF)

WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Lou Correa (D-CA) introduced the Design for Recycling Resolution to recognize and encourage efforts by manufacturers to reduce waste and consumption of raw materials by designing products to maximize their recyclability.

The Resolution further recognizes the recycling industry's major contributions to the U.S. economy and the environment, through jobs created, revenue and taxes generated, and the recovery of goods, including rare earth materials.

"We've made great strides in recycling collection and technology, but we can and must do more. It requires more education, greater investments, more robust infrastructure, and working alongside manufacturers to design products with recyclability at the forefront. This is how we'll achieve our recycling goals, create more jobs, and further jumpstart the American economy," Correa said.

BACKGROUND: Design for Recycling initiatives provide a pathway for manufacturers to consider recyclability of their products from the outset-selecting recyclable materials, simplifying product design, and facilitating disassembly-thereby maximizing resource efficiency and reducing overall waste. It further facilitates businesses' ability to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

Designing products with recycling in mind ensures that materials can be efficiently recovered, reused, or repurposed at the end of their useful life, rather than ending up in landfills or incinerators. This approach conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the transition to a circular economy, where materials remain in use for as long as possible.

This resolution was also co-sponsored by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY).

ENDORSEMENTS: The Recycling Partnership, Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), US Composting Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), SA Recycling, Just Zero, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy, Can Manufacturers Institute, National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), and American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

"The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) is encouraged by Representative Correa's commitment to ensuring that Design for Recycling principles guide new product design, helping to turn today's phones and automobiles into the essential materials for tomorrow's manufacturers. We support efforts to ensure products contain the maximum amount of recyclable materials, are designed to be easily recycled, be free of hazardous materials, and reduce the reliance on primary raw materials by including recycled materials," said Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association.

"Congressman Correa's resolution recognizes the essential role of recycled materials in our economy and encourages manufacturers to design their products to further encourage recycling. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has long recognized the importance of aiding packaging designers and brands in the design and manufacture of paper-based packaging to meet recyclability goals through our Design Guidance for Recyclability initiative. We applaud Congressman Correa's leadership as co-chair of the Paper and Packaging Caucus and his efforts to advance the recycled materials that build America," said Julie Landry, Vice President of Government Affairs of the American Forest & Paper Association.

"Design for recycling is one of the 5 requirements for an effective recycling system. If we don't put materials that can be recycled into the system, the system won't deliver the returns we expect from it," said Anthony Tusino, Senior Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at The Recycling Partnership. "At a time when we are landfilling nearly 40 million tons of valuable materials every year, we need to rethink the way we use and recycle materials to ensure they can be used again. Design for recycling should make it easy for consumers to be part of the recycling system, make it more efficient for materials to get through the recycling system to be remade into new products, and should be re-utilized as feedstocks here at home."

"SA Recycling has been a strong supporter of Lou Correa for many years. Particularly his interest and passion in partnering with the recycling industry to help put an emphasis on the need to elevate the profile on the need for advancing the circular economy. As a nationwide recycler we support the Design for Recycling (DfR) initiatives," SA Recycling said, a world leader in the metal recycling and processing.

"AMERIPEN applauds Congressman Lou Correa for introducing a resolution recognizing the importance of Design for Recycling (DFR) initiatives. The resolution highlights the essential role that recycling plays in reducing waste, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs. AMERIPEN looks forward to continuing to work with policymakers, industry, and partners across the value chain to drive meaningful progress in packaging policy while supporting industry growth and consumer needs," said Lynn Dyer, Executive Director of AMERIPEN.

"In our role representing the compost industry, we support this bill because it is important to ensure that manufacturers design their products to be recycled or composted, and free of materials that may detract from the recycling or composting process. Ensuring compostability increases even more the impact that organic recycling can have on the U.S. economy," said Linda Norris-Waldt, Executive Director of the US Composting Council.

"The Paper Recycling Coalition thanks Congressman Correa for his continued leadership on recycling and packaging issues critical to our economy and the environment. The recycled paper sector is built on fiber products that are inherently designed for recyclability, serving as the backbone of America's success in advancing circularity. We believe voluntary, market-driven initiatives are the best way to foster innovation, strengthen recycling systems, and build on this record of achievement. We appreciate that Rep. Correa's resolution aligns with this principle," said Terese Colling, President of the Paper Recycling Coalition.

"GPI strongly supports Congressman Correa's Design for Recycling Resolution and its framework, which would enable glass and other recyclable material to be more easily sorted and reclaimed for reuse in manufacturing processes, increase the end market value of packaging set out by residents for recycling, reduce contamination levels at recycling recovery facilities and lessen landfill disposal," said Scott DeFife, President of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI).

"The metal can industry concurs with this resolution supporting Design for Recycling (DFR) initiatives. The U.S. metal can manufacturing industry already practices and encourages DFR. One way is using high amounts of recycled content with the aluminum beverage can as the leading example at an average of 71%. This high amount of recycled content has a significant impact as it saves 95% of the energy needed for primary aluminum. The metal can industry has also encouraged DFR through the publication of aluminum can and steel can design guides for recyclability. CMI believes all metal cans should be in accordance with these design guides for recyclability to the extent possible. Continued use of high amounts of recycled content and adherence to design guides for recyclability will help keep materials in circulation, protect the environment, and create American jobs," said Scott Breen, President of the Can Manufacturers Institute.

"Across the country, landfills and incinerators are overflowing with products and packaging that were never designed to be recycled - and communities are paying the price with their health and environment," said Peter Blair, Policy and Advocacy Director with Just Zero. "Recycling only works when products on store shelves are built for it. We need manufacturers to design goods that can be reused, recovered, and kept out of our waste stream. This resolution sends a clear message: For recycling to succeed, companies must ensure the things we buy don't come at the expense of people and the planet."

You can read the full text of this resolution HERE.

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