In advance of Earth Day, Boozman leads efforts to strengthen recycling and composting

Introduces legislation to strengthen recycling industry

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, joined the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), to introduce two pieces of legislation focused on bolstering our nation’s recycling and composting infrastructure.

The “Recycling and Composting Accountability Act” would improve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to gather data on our nation’s recycling systems and explore opportunities for implementing a national composting strategy. The “Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act” would allow the EPA to create a pilot program to improve recycling services in underserved areas. 

“Recycling is critical to reducing waste while also helping create jobs and driving innovation. These legislative initiatives improve recycling capabilities in our communities and expand opportunities for recycling and composting in rural, underserved areas. I’m hopeful we can continue to build on the momentum from last Congress and send these bills to the president’s desk to be signed into law so we can leverage the economic and environmental benefits of recycling,” said Boozman.

“Most Americans want to recycle, recognizing that it helps reduce pollution and waste in their communities and supports economic opportunity and job creation,” said Carper, co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. “Yet, with a national recycling rate of little more than 30 percent, it’s clear we can and must do better. Our bipartisan legislation would help address several of the challenges facing our nation’s recycling and composting efforts, improving access to these services and the availability of sound data. I am pleased to reintroduce these bipartisan bills with Senators Capito and Boozman, and I look forward to hopefully moving our legislation across the finish line this Congress.”

“Making it easier for more people to recycle, especially in rural states like West Virginia, is not only good for the environment, but it’s good for our economy,” said Capito. “These bills would implement commonsense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country and create good-paying jobs in our communities. The EPW Committee continues to deliver bipartisan solutions on a range of issues, and I appreciate Chairman Carper and Senator Boozman for once again working together as we lay the foundation for increased recycling and composting in the future.”

Following introduction of the legislation, Boozman spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of recycling for the environment and the economy while emphasizing the need to advance the measures.

As a founder and co-chair of the recycling caucus, Boozman has championed initiatives to improve commercial and curbside recycling and hosted events bringing together industry leaders to promote sustainability and preservation of our natural resources.

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Ethan Nahté

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