More than 1,600 municipal recycling programs across Pennsylvania-- and the approximately 80,000 jobs the industry supports -- will benefit from another decade of guaranteed funding now that Governor Edward G. Rendell has signed House Bill 961.
According to the Governor, continuing to support local recycling programs is important to Pennsylvania's economy and environment.
"Making it easier for citizens to recycle by supporting community-based programs is about sustainability and preserving our natural resources; it's about supporting jobs; and it's about providing our manufacturers with an affordable and stable supply of raw materials," said the Governor. "It's a win-win-win for our economy and our environment.
Launched in 1988, Pennsylvania's recycling program is funded by a "tipping fee" of $2 per ton on all waste managed at municipal waste landfills and resource recovery facilities in the state. The fees generate approximately $35 million each year to support municipal recycling programs that serve nearly 10 million residents.
In total, Pennsylvania recycles millions of tons of materials each year and reuse businesses annually generate more than $20 billion in sales, which saves communities money on disposal costs and provides an additional source of revenue. The recycling industry in Pennsylvania also has a yearly payroll of more than $2 billion.
"Recycling diverts five million tons of waste from our landfills annually and has helped businesses and local governments avoid more than $1 billion in disposal costs since the program was created," Governor Rendell said. "Since Pennsylvania's recycling program began, young people have learned to reduce, reuse and recycle, and thanks to the support of the legislature -- particularly Rep. Buxton, who sponsored this bill, and Sen. Mary Jo White, who saw it through the Senate -- we will be able to pass these valuable lessons on to future generations."
Governor Rendell's signature on the act ensures the tipping fee will continue to be collected through 2020 and also authorizes a $1.25 million transfer from the recycling fund to the Waste Tire Remediation Fund to complete high-priority tire pile cleanups, work that is important to protecting public health, he said.
"By cleaning up waste tire piles, we're removing a blight that plagues many towns and cities across the state," said Governor Rendell. "These piles pose a fire danger and offer a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile Virus. So preserving the funding to clean up these piles is important to protecting the safety and health of our communities, too."
Since 2003, the Governor noted, Pennsylvania has already removed nearly 12.5 million waste tires by cleaning up 111 piles. Nearly 4.8 million of these tires were removed at no cost to the state as a result of aggressive enforcement action by the Department of Environmental Protection.
For more information on recycling and a complete list of grant programs, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Recycling.
