Number: 1991-14
WHEREAS, Americans are generating more waste than ever before and at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS, siting new landfills and finding other means of disposal is becoming increasingly more difficult; and
WHEREAS, in some cases there are economic incentives to use virgin materials instead of promoting the reuse or recycling of disposed materials; and
WHEREAS, curbside sorting programs and recycling centers have demonstrated a willingness and enthusiasm among U. S. citizens to sort and recycle waste in efforts that have doubled since 1960; and
WHEREAS, many of the sorted items have ended up in landfills because there is no profitable market for them; and
WHEREAS, the most prevalent items in our waste stream are reusable or recyclable, with paper products constituting more than 71 million tons or 40% by weight of all municipal solid waste; and
WHEREAS, state and federal governments are the largest consumers of paper products to date, and in many instances, consume virgin paper products;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 21-24, 1991, in Memphis, Tennessee, supports discontinuance of economic incentives that promote the use of virgin materials and instead encourages, with these economic incentives, the expansion of markets for and industry’s use of recycled materials; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that federal policy should require all branches of government to adopt the practice of consuming previously-used, recycled paper for all publications, correspondence, and office operations.