Carper Welcomes EPA’s First-Ever National Recycling Strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-founder of the Senate Recycling Caucus, today praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s release of its National Recycling Strategy, the first-ever overarching document guiding recycling policy at the federal level. 

“As a passionate, lifelong recycler, I am thrilled to see the Biden administration take this historic step. In our efforts to combat the existential threat of climate change, recycling is an important tool to move us towards a more circular economy and truly sustainable future. By launching its first-ever National Recycling Strategy, EPA is providing us with concrete steps to reach our shared recycling goals. I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues in Congress to improve our nation’s waste management systems.”

EPA’s final strategy addresses many of the concerns raised by Carper during the open comment period on the draft proposal.

The National Recycling Strategy takes several concrete steps that will help address the complex and wide-ranging challenges confronting our national recycling, including:

• Embracing the elements of a circular economy;
• Recognizing the need to enhance markets for recyclable materials;
• Considering policies that promote producer responsibility for the lifecycle impacts and costs associated with products;
• Reimagining public education and reducing contamination in the context of an aggressive circular economy strategy; and
• Considering the impact of non-hazardous solid waste management infrastructure on our most vulnerable communities.