[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62563-62564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30189]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 17, 1999 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 62563]]
Proclamation 7250 of November 15, 1999
America Recycles Day, 1999
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Recycling is one of the great success stories in
America's crusade to protect our environment and
preserve our natural resources. Americans have
undergone a fundamental change in attitude about
recycling during the past 4 decades. Where most
Americans and many industries were once unmindful of
our resources and careless in disposing of waste
materials, people across our country now recognize the
importance of recycling and have made it part of their
daily routines. In 1996 alone, recycling nationwide
diverted a total of 57 million tons of material away
from landfills and incinerators--more than a quarter of
our country's annual municipal solid waste.
Nonetheless, the recycling process is complete only
when recovered materials return to the market as new
products for purchase by consumers. The most effective
way we can ensure the continued success of recycling in
America is to expand markets for products that contain
recycled materials. Buying recycled products conserves
resources, reduces water and air pollution, saves
energy, and creates jobs. Producing 1 ton of paper from
recycled pulp saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill
space, and 7000 gallons of water. It also reduces air
pollutants by 60 pounds, saves 390 gallons of oil, and
conserves 4200 kilowatt hours of energy--enough to heat
a home for half a year. Estimates show that 9 jobs are
created for every 15,000 tons of solid waste recycled
into new products.
The U.S. Government has helped promote recycling by
purchasing recycled-content products--in fiscal 1997
alone, we purchased $354 million worth of such
products. In September of 1998, I was proud to sign
Executive Order 13101--Greening the Government Through
Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition--
which directed all Federal agencies to expand and
strengthen the Federal Government's dedication to
recycling and to buying products made with recycled
content. This responsible use of Government purchasing
power will not only help the environment, but will also
stimulate the growth of clean industries in the 21st
century.
America Recycles Day unites business and industry,
environmental and civic groups, and local, State, and
Federal Government agencies to encourage recycling.
This partnership challenges all businesses and
consumers in America to increase their purchases of
recycled products, to boost their recycling efforts,
and to start new recycling programs. The theme for this
year's observance--``For Our Children's Future . . .
Buy Recycled Today''--reminds us of the profound and
long-term implications of the actions we take today. By
using products with recycled content and creating new
markets for such products, we will conserve America's
precious natural resources for the benefit of
generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 1999, as
America Recycles Day. I urge all Americans to observe
this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and
to take personal responsibility for the environment not
only by recycling, but also by choosing to purchase and
use products made from recycled materials.
[[Page 62564]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-fourth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 99-30189
Filed 11-16-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
