Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring November 15, 2024, as America Recycles Day in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation and present it to Rockville Chief of Environmental Management, Erica Shingara.
Discussion
America Recycles Day (ARD) is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Through ARD, the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful educates and encourages individuals to pledge to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle more - and recycle right -- in their everyday lives. These actions help further engage the public on the benefits of fostering a circular economy approach to waste reduction in which products are designed to be either durable and recyclable or compostable.
In the latest statistics available, 2018, the United States generates more than 292 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) 50% going into landfills - more than 4.9 pounds per person per day. The number in 1960 was 60 million tons of MSW.
Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 million tons were recycled, and 25 million tons were composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate. An additional 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods.
But more can still be done. The diversion of refuse that would otherwise be incinerated reduces Rockville’s impact on Maryland’s air, water, and land. Rockville is continually seeking to improve recycling rates. Since 2009, Rockville has offered a single-stream recycling program for its residents to encourage recycling. Rockville’s current recycling rate is 41%, up from 30% in 2009, but not yet reaching the target of 50% or more.
Combustion
• In 2018, 11.8% of MSW generated in the U.S. was disposed of through waste incineration with energy recovery
• Combustion reduces waste by 75-85% by weight and 85-95% by volume, leaving behind a residue called ash. A majority of this ash is landfilled, although recent attempts have been made to reuse the residue in 2020, 65 power plants burned 25 million tons of MSW and generated about 13.5 billion kWh of electricity.
• Biogenic MSW (paper, food, and yard waste) accounted for 45% (6.08 billion kWh) of the electricity produced or about 0.15% of total U.S. electricity generation.
• Incineration of MSW generates a variety of pollutants (CO2, heavy metals, dioxins, particulates) that contribute to impacts such as climate change, smog, acidification, and human health impacts (asthma and heart and nervous system damage).
Source: <https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/material-resources/municipal-solid-waste-factsheet>
Recognizing America Recycles day helps raise public awareness about ways to reduce waste and encourages residents to learn more about what materials are recyclable in Rockville. More information about waste and recycling is posted on the city website: <https://www.rockvillemd.gov/300/Recycling-Trash-Yard-Waste>
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present this proclamation annually.