The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) was passed.

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments passed.

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act passed. Rhode Island is the first state to pass mandatory recycling laws for cans, glass, newspapers and plastic.

Ocean Dumping Ban passed. The Plastic Bottle Institute develops a material identification code system for plastic bottle manufacturers (#1-6).

McDonalds stops using Styrofoam packaging due to protests. Coca-Cola and Pepsi announce they will use recycled PET bottles made of about 25% recycled plastic resin.

The federal recycling order is signed.

U.N. Earth Summit promotes sustainable development.

PROBLEMS

Those who are against the idea of recycling the products and resources being used cite several issues for the basis of their beliefs. The first issue is the belief that "recycling "squanders money and good will, and doesn't do much for the environment either."

When these statements came out in recent publications policy makers immediately went to work using that attack as a reason to shut down the recycling mandates and programs that they were funding.

John Tierney, who is considered an expert in his field is one of the published authors who drew fire when he said recycling was a waste of time.

His statements included sentiments that its more costly than it saves.

I think people matter more than garbage does, and I see kids wasting time worrying about garbage, when they could be doing something useful." (McCurdy, 2006)
Others believe that it is not the individual waste and need to recycle that will make a difference to the environment or to the future. They believe it is up to industry to handle the problem and the clean up. (Khator, 2003)

The National Solid Waste Management Association reports that 30 states in the United States have adopted laws on recycling. The Environmental Protection

References

Talking trash. (recycling) (Waste Not, part 1)

E; 3/1/1997; Motavalli, Jim

Recycling: a policy dilemma for American states?

Policy Studies Journal; 6/22/1993; Khator, Renu

Recycling: before you start.

Journal of Property Management; 7/1/1994; Parrott, Kathleen

Is Recycling Being Canned?; Budget Constraints, Other Factors Slowing Progress

The Washington Post; 9/22/2002; Martha McNeil Hamilton Washington Post Staff Writer

Economy Reaps Benefits from Recycling.

Waste Age; 11/1/2000; Alexander, Michael

The problem with recycling: why the industry must strive to share the burden.(Commentary)

Electronic Business; 1/1/2006; McCurdy, Dave