Monday, July 28, 2008, marked the twentieth anniversary of the signing of Act 101- Pennsylvania’s Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act. This landmark legislation, signed by Gov. Robert Casey, launched the $18.4 billion recycling industry that the Commonwealth enjoys today.

Act 101’s original goals were to “reduce Pennsylvania’s municipal waste generation; recycle at least 25 percent of waste generated; procure and use recycled and recyclable materials in state governmental agencies; and educate the public as to the benefits of recycling and waste reduction,” according to The Department of Environmental Protection, who are responsible for administering and enforcing the act.

Pennsylvania’s state legislature noted the purpose of Act 101 was demonstrated in the benefits recycling would provide the state. Specifically, recycling and waste reduction include reduced pollution risks; conservation of natural resources, energy and landfill space; and reduced disposal costs.

Act 101 mandated recycling in Pennsylvania’s larger municipalities, required counties to develop municipal waste management plans, and established grant programs for municipalities and counties to assist in meeting these new regulations.

Specifically, curbside recycling was required in all of the Commonwealth’s municipalities with populations exceeding 10,000 residents. For communities with more than 300 persons per square mile but between 5,000 and 10,000 residents, they were also required to establish curbside recycling programs. Communities that were not mandated were still eligible for grant funding to establish recycling programs, including recycling drop-off centers at all disposal facilities. Mandated municipalities are required to collect at least 3 of the following materials: clear glass; colored glass; plastics; aluminum; steel and bimetallic cans; high grade office paper; corrugated paper and newsprint.

The regulations did not stop at residential recycling. Commercial, municipal and institutional establishments within a mandated municipality are required by Act 101 to recycle aluminum, high-grade office paper and corrugated paper, in addition to other materials chosen by the municipality. Mandated municipalities are also required to separate leaf waste from other municipal wastes.

Twenty years later, the state has successfully diverted close to the 25 percent goal originally stated in 1988. In addition, the state’s economy has been boosted by the Recycling industry:

· Recycling and Reuse Establishments - 3,247;

· Recycling and Reuse Employment - 81,322 jobs; and

· Annual Sales Receipts - $18.4 billion (DEP statistics)

Counties, townships, and municipalities have well established recycling programs in most areas of the Commonwealth. The DEP Grant program has been instrumental in developing and maintaining recycling programs by offering education to residents.

Carl Hursh, DEP Chief Recycling & Markets, recently commented on the state of recycling at the 20 year mark in The Pennsylvania Recycler Magazine, “Today’s otherwise wealth of recycling opportunities did not manifest overnight but resulted from the dedication of statewide organizations, a Legislature that approved Act 101 with only one dissenting vote, the support of Governors and Lt. Governors, the counties charged with planning for recycling, the municipalities charged with providing recycling programs, the private and public recycling industry who responded to the supply side drive, and most of all, a public that has, for the most part, embraced participation in recycling.”

However, as recycling professionals celebrate the anniversary of Act 101, there are concerns about the future of the recycling program.

John Frederick, Executive Director of the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania reported to PROP members, “In an effort to shore up revenue shortfalls, the Governor proposed and the General Assembly adopted, a budget that authorized removing $15 million from the Recycling Fund and placing it in the General Fund. The latest $15 million withdrawal from the Recycling Fund brings the cumulative diversion of money from the fund to nearly $150 million. While we are still uncertain of the specific impact this will have on the grant programs, it is certain that the Department of Environmental Protection will have much less money available for Section 902 grants and other technical assistance, outreach and education funding. A lower fund balance will also reduce interest income, translating into a fund loss in excess of $15 million.”

Frederick explains the impact of this fund diversion on recycling programs.

“Meanwhile, demand for the Section 902 Recycling Grants continues to far outpace available funding. Since the first substantial diversion from the fund was made in 1999, requests have consistently exceeded available funding, on several occasions by more than $20 million. This is complicated by two other issues: the sun setting of the Recycling Fee on January 1, 2012 and the loss of fees collected by counties. The possible loss of the Recycling Fee (levied on trash disposed of in all Pennsylvania facilities) means that there is no assurance that future grant funding will be provided.”

These funding issues where the subject of great importance at the 18th Annual PROP Conference, which convened in Gettysburg July 29 at the Wyndham Gettysburg. This year, PROP anticipates well over 200 attendees, exhibitors and other notable speakers and visitors to be in attendance during the four day event. Media are encouraged to contact Jill Reigh at the PROP office for admittance to the event.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Bellwood, is the state’s official non-profit recycling association of recycling professionals dedicated to promoting and enhancing the interests of recycling, recycling programs, composting, and composting programs in Pennsylvania through education, information exchange, technical support, applied research and coordination of recycling industry initiatives.

(Provided by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania.)

8/1/2008