Design for Recycling Resolution introduced

Rep. Lou Correa (D-California) has 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, cosponsored by Reps. Young Kim (R-California) and Joe Morelle (D-New York), recognizes the recycling industry’s contributions to the United States economy and the environment through jobs created, revenue and taxes generated and the recovery of goods, including rare earth materials.

The resolution cites data claiming the recycled materials industry annually contributes around $170 billion to the U.S. economy and provides nearly $20.2 billion in net exports. Additionally, the document cites data gathered by the Washington-based Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) claiming the industry generates $7.2 billion per year in state and local tax revenues and provides another $11.6 billion in federal tax revenue from the industry and its employees.

Also, per ReMA data, the recycled materials industry provides nearly 600,000 jobs in the U.S. directly and indirectly, while recycling more than 137 million metric tons of materials.

“We’ve made great strides in recycling collection and technology, but we can and must do more,” Correa says in a news release detailing the resolution. “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.”

In his statement, Correa notes that 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 also facilitates businesses’ ability to meet growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

Correa says 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. He adds that 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.

The resolution has received numerous endorsements, including from ReMA, The Recycling Partnership (TRP), the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), the U.S. Composting Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), SA Recycling, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Ocean Conservancy, the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), Just Zero, the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) and the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

“The Recycled Materials Association 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,” ReMA President Robin Wiener says. “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.”

Julie Landry, vice president of government affairs at Washington-based AF&PA, says the resolution recognizes the essential role of recycled materials in the U.S. economy and encourages manufacturers to design their products to further encourage recycling.

“The American Forest & Paper Association 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,” Landry says. “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.”

SA Recycling, an Orange, California-based metals recycler with a nationwide footprint, says, “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 initiatives.”

Responding to the resolution, Lynn Dyer, executive director of Springfield, Massachusetts-based AMERIPEN, applauded its focus on the "essential role” recycling plays in reducing waste, strengthening domestic manufacturing and supporting hundreds of thousands of U.S. 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,” Dyer says.