Pennsylvania Governor Signs Bill Extending Recycling Funding Through 2020

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell has signed House Bill 961, which extends funding for recycling and waste tire cleanup through 2020.

According to Rendell, 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," Rendell says. "It's a win-win-win for our economy and our environment.

The program, launched in 1988, 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 about $35 million each year to support municipal recycling programs.

"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," Rendell adds. "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."

In addition to funding recycling program, the extension authorizes a $1.25 million transfer from the recycling fund to the Waste Tire Remediation Fund to complete high-priority tire pile cleanups.