BGR Supports America Recycles Day
November 15, 2022
This America Recycles Day, BGR Group is proud to work with the American Beverage Association on initiatives that include the Recycling Infrastructure Now (RIN) Coalition to expand and improve our nation’s recycling system. Recycling presents environmental and economic benefits that can be maximized both today and well into the future. For recycling to reach its full potential, it must be a comprehensive effort between federal, state and local leaders to identify and fix gaps in our infrastructure and strengthen our circular economy.
Recently, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program, which would provide $275 million to support improvements to local post-consumer materials management. Also included was $75 million to help educate households and consumers about their residential and community recycling programs. Together, this much needed funding will accelerate the expansion of recycling access and technical assistance to residents who want to do their part to be good stewards of our environment but lack the tools and resources to do so.
The RIN coalition is also supportive of the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, two pieces of legislation that have bipartisan support in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act seeks to establish a pilot program to increase materials recovery in rural and underserved communities by expanding curbside recycling collection, leveraging public-private partnerships and increasing the number of transfer stations. Together, these actions will work to ensure that valuable materials can be remade, closing the loop on the cycle of circularity. The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act would increase and improve transparency for recycling data collection to evaluate best practices and identify areas for improvement. The U.S. Senate passed both pieces of legislation earlier this year, and as these efforts await action in the U.S. House, the RIN Coalition hopes that leaders on both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of moving these efforts past the finish line.
America Recycles Day is the time to reiterate our nation’s commitment to solutions that will increase recycling access and spur necessary investments in recycling infrastructure, particularly in underserved communities.
