Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 1.djvu/160

 104 STAT. 126 PUBLIC LAW 101-264—APR. 4, 1990 Public Law 101-264 101st Congress Joint Resolution Apr. 4, 1990 [S.J. Res. 250] Designating April 1990 as "National Recycling Month". Whereas the continued generation of enormous volumes of solid waste each year presents unacceptable threats to human health and the environment; Whereas several regions of the United States are experiencing a severe shortage of disposal capacity for municipal solid waste; Whereas as a result of the inability to find sites for new solid waste management facilities, many communities are managing waste in facilities that were not designed with the best available environmental controls; Whereas the generation of hazardous waste and solid waste must be reduced and as much remaining waste as possible must be recycled to protect human health and the environment and to minimize treatment and disposal capacity problems; Whereas a significant amount of waste can be diverted from disposal by the utilization of source separation, mechanical separation, and community-based recycling programs; Whereas local governments should be an integral component of the decisionmaking process regarding the management of municipal solid waste; Whereas developing a system of waste management that, to the greatest extent practicable, separates elements of the waste stream that require special management or that are in demand for reuse or recycling will enhance the economic feasibility and environmental safety of all management methods, including recycling, incineration, and land disposal; Whereas source reduction and recycling represent the most environmentally sound means of managing municipal solid waste and can often be carried out with a lower cost than is incurred by other means; Whereas recycling preserves limited landfill capacity and reduces the amount of solid waste intended for incineration; Whereas recycling can save energy and avoid the pollution created from extracting resources from their natural environment; Whereas the revenues recovered by recycling programs offset the costs of solid waste management; Whereas a well-developed system of recycling scrap metals, paper, and glass already exists and is significantly reducing the quantity of solid waste entering landfills or incinerators; Whereas the technology for recycling plastic is currently under development, and progress continues toward increasing potential markets; Whereas many consumer products are designed without sufficient regard for safe and efficient recycling after disposal; Whereas Federal, State, and local governments should promote the design of products that can be recycled safely and efficiently;

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