For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 15, 2001
America Recycles Day Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
We must preserve our natural heritage by serving as good stewards
of our land. Recycling helps to serve this important
function by conserving our natural resources as we reuse them where we
can. Recycling safeguards our environment and helps keep
America beautiful for present and future generations.
The United States generates more than 230 million tons of municipal
solid waste every year, which amounts to four and a half pounds of
trash per person per day. However, thanks to the efforts of
the American people, we are now recovering more than 64 million tons of
usable material annually, and that rate has doubled since 1990.
Successful recycling includes not only the collection of materials,
but also the manufacture of new products and the purchase of recycled
content products. Buying products made of recycled materials
contributes to domestic energy conservation and ultimately, a cleaner
environment. For example, recycling one aluminum can saves
enough energy to run a television set for three
hours. Recycling a ton of glass saves the equivalent of 9
gallons of fuel oil, and recycling solid waste prevents the release of
37 million tons of carbon into the air -- roughly the amount emitted
annually by 28 million cars.
As more products made with recycled materials reach the
marketplace, individual consumers, corporations, and Federal agencies
are purchasing these goods as cost-effective and responsible business
solutions. Such items may range from recycled content paper,
retread tires, and re-refined oil, to concrete and insulation
containing recycled materials.
Our Nation is making great progress by recycling, but we can and
must do better. America Recycles Day 2001 represents a
partnership among Government, industry, and environmental organizations
to promote recycling and to encourage the participation of all our
citizens. As part of the event, the Federal Government
hosted a poster contest for the children of Federal employees to help
raise awareness in the Government, and across the Nation, of the need
to continue protecting the environment by recycling. All Americans can
help "Close the Recycling Circle," by recycling products in our homes,
schools, offices, and communities, and also by purchasing products made
from recycled materials. These recycling and remanufacturing
activities help conserve resources and also stimulate our economy by
creating jobs and revenue.
Last year, more than 3 million people in all 50 States and 2 U.S.
territories committed to reduce, reuse, and recycle more and to buy
recycled products. For America Recycles Day 2001, I
encourage all Americans to build on these achievements by recycling and
by purchasing and using products made from recycled
materials. These responsible actions can help protect our
environment and conserve natural resources for the benefit of all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2001, as
America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United
States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day
of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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