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TO DECLARE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA RECYCLERS DAY" AND TO COMMEND AND RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINA'S RECYCLERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR STATE'S ECONOMY AND FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
Whereas, recycling in South Carolina protects the environment, conserves natural resources, promotes energy efficiency, and supports economic development; and
Whereas, the upgrading and processing of recycled materials adds $6.5 billion annually to South Carolina's economy. Additionally, the recycling industry is projected to increase approximately twelve percent annually during the next five years, with an economic impact to the State of more than $11 billion; and
Whereas, in South Carolina, the recycling industry is directly responsible for more than 37,440 jobs, $1.5 billion in annual personal income, and an estimated $69 million in tax revenue each year; and
Whereas, the South Carolina recycling industry announced over $438 million in capital investment, the creation of 1,130 new jobs, with twenty-eight new or existing companies investing in the State in 2010. The recycling industry is comprised of haulers, collectors, processors, brokers, recycling equipment sales and manufacturers, and end-users, or manufacturers who use recycled-material feedstock and make recycled-content products from it; and
Whereas, in addition to recycling, other green-industry sector companies in South Carolina announced over $825 million in capital investment and 3,080 green jobs, adding fourteen new or existing businesses. The green-industry sector is comprised of companies that help reduce the use of fossil fuels, pollution, and GHG emissions; develop renewable energy sources; and increase the efficiency of energy usage; and
Whereas, through the recognition and promotion of the economic, energy, and environmental benefits of recycling, South Carolina's recycling industry will grow, thereby creating efficient market-based solutions for various energy and waste-management concerns; and
Whereas, the significant energy benefits of recycling provide greater diversity and reliability to the South Carolina energy grid while protecting the state's natural resources. The manufacture of recycled products requires, on average, seventeen times less energy than manufacturing the same products from virgin materials; and
Whereas, in 2007, the energy saved from recycling reached 900 trillion BTUs nationwide, equal to the amount of energy used by nine million American households. As such, in addition to the traditionally understood benefits of recycling as a conservation and waste-management tool, recycling is becoming known as an energy source to help combat the nation's growing energy crisis. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, declare Wednesday, March 9, 2011, as "South Carolina Recyclers Day," and commend and recognize South Carolina's recyclers for their contributions to our state's economy and for their efforts to protect the environment and promote energy efficiency.
This web page was last updated on March 9, 2011 at 10:19 AM