Letter in Support of Increased Funding for Recycling

Dear Legislator,

We’re writing in support of House Bill 223, Representative Isaacson’s bill to raise the municipal waste recycling fee. This proposed legislation would raise the fee waste haulers pay at landfills and incinerators that goes into the Commonwealth’s Recycling Fund, from $2 per ton to $5 per ton. 

The Recycling Fund is vital for funding existing municipal-level recycling programs, as well as the financial assistance needed to create new local recycling programs.   But in recent years the funds available have plateaued, as the $2 fee has remained unchanged since Act 101 was passed in 1988. In fact, $2 today would only be worth $0.87 in 1988, a fraction of what was originally enacted.  It’s also important to note that much of the waste coming to Pennsylvania’s landfills is from other states, so Pennsylvanians won’t bear the bulk of these costs–but will reap the financial benefits.

Funding for recycling has essentially flatlined since the passage of Act 101 in 1988.  We need to properly fund our recycling programs to ensure their success.

Enhancing Pennsylvania’s recycling and solid waste efforts would have numerous benefits for the Commonwealth.  Recycling is already a $22.6 billion industry that employs over 66,000 people statewide while reducing our carbon footprint equal to taking 2 million cars off the road each year. By modernizing and improving our recycling efforts, we can expand upon these benefits.

Pennsylvania can be a leader in recycling by modernizing the policy that positioned us as champions so long ago. For our health, environment, and the economy, we must recommit to reducing, reusing, and recycling across our commonwealth.