AMERICA RECYCLES DAY: A CAPITAL IDEA

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY: A CAPITAL IDEA
First Ever Electronics Recycling Event Held on the National Mall

Hundreds of District of Columbia area residents helped celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15 and 16, 2002 on the National Mall. Through a partnership among Federal agencies, the District of Columbia government, electronics manufacturers, and non-government associations, volunteers on the grounds of the Washington Monument collected more than 30 tons of old electronic equipment for reuse or recycling.

In this first ever event held on the National Mall, approximately 75 volunteers unloaded more than 400 vehicles containing used electronics from local residents. The collected materials filled three semi trailers with over 800 computers, 1300 monitors, almost 300 printers, and over 100 televisions. More than 250 cell phones were collected for the Wireless Foundation, which donates them to the Wireless Phones for Domestic Safety program at local charities nationwide for victims of domestic abuse. The other electronics will be tested. What's useable will be refurbished and sold. Trained federal prison inmates will demanufacture the electronics that are not reuseable, and the recovered resources will be sold.

This effort was the result of a unique partnership among federal agencies, the D.C. Recycling Program, non-profit organizations, trade associations, and electronics manufacturers. The partners included: the National Park Service, Dell, UNICOR (Federal Prisons Industries, Inc.), the District of Columbia, AT&T, the National Park Foundation, Canon, the Department of the Interior's National Business Center, Philips, the National Recycling Coalition, Inc., the Department of the Interior, Intel, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, the Electronics Industries Alliance, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., and the Consumer Electronics Association, and the Wireless Foundation. All worked together to plan and host this successful event.

Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton read and delivered an America Recycles Day proclamation from President George W. Bush (for text, see below) to Mr. Herb Tillery, the Deputy Mayor for Operations of the District of Columbia. James Connaughton, the Chairman of the President's Council on Environmental Quality, also offered his congratulations at the event.

Pictures of ARD on the National Mall

America Recycles Day, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Americans are dedicated to protecting our land, ensuring that our air is clean, and preserving the purity of our water. To help fulfill these responsibilities, government, businesses, community organizations, and every citizen must work together to serve as good stewards of all of our natural resources. On America Recycles Day, we renew our commitment to preserving our resources by recycling and using products made with recycled materials.

Recycling has become one of the most successful environmental initiatives in our Nation's history. In 1990, Americans recycled or composted 34 million tons of material. In the following decade, this number more than doubled to nearly 70 million tons. These efforts are helping to safeguard our environment by reducing the need for landfills and incinerators. Last year, the Federal Government contributed to these important goals by purchasing paper, retread tires, re-refined oil, concrete, insulation, and other products containing recycled materials.

Our Nation also continues to develop innovative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste. Although we have made significant progress, much work still remains. Americans generate more than 230 million tons of solid waste each year. Simple measures can help communities, businesses, and individuals decrease waste and extend the use of our natural resources. Individuals and families can participate in the recycling programs offered in their neighborhoods.

At home and in school, parents and teachers can educate children about the benefits of recycling and the importance of caring for our environment. By purchasing products made from recycled materials, American consumers provide economic incentives for businesses to collect, produce, and market more products that are recycled and recyclable. Our recycling and reuse industry provides approximately 1.4 million jobs, producing billions of dollars in annual revenues that contribute to the prosperity of our country. By recycling, we conserve our valuable resources, protect our air and water from harmful pollutants, and strengthen our economy.

On America Recycles Day, I encourage all Americans to rededicate themselves to using our resources more wisely by reusing and recycling the materials they purchase. Through these efforts, we help make our communities more livable, our businesses more competitive, and our Nation a healthier place for future generations to enjoy.

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, 2002, 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 fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH