A statewide recycling survey that was launched on June 1st will close on August 31st, 2020. The Recycling Market Development Plan seeks to document recycling and the use of recyclables in manufacturing in Texas, as well as evaluate multiple recycling economic issues in greater detail. Survey results will be used to develop a Recycling Market Development Plan that will provide recommendations for Texas policy makers to address the economic, environmental and policy issues of interest to Texas businesses and governmental agencies.

The effort is the result of a bill passed in the 86th Texas Legislative Session (Senate Bill 649), which requires the development of a Recycling Market Development Plan to take an updated look at the economics of the recycling industry in Texas and provide details about the current and needed infrastructure to manage the state’s recyclables, as well as various recommendations on how to support and grow the Texas recycling industry. An educational campaign will also be developed to highlight the economic benefits of recycling, the companies in Texas utilizing recycled feedstock, and contamination reduction messaging.

“Senate Bill 649 is an important step toward fostering the continued growth of recycling in Texas. The new law will help promote and expand markets for recyclable materials in our state, protect and create jobs in the industry, and educate consumers to recycle properly and reduce contamination,” said Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the bill’s author. “This survey will ensure the Recycling Market Development Plan is grounded in fact, not supposition, and I highly encourage all interested stakeholders to participate.”

The survey released on June 1st is a collaborative and voluntary process with recycling processors and end-market representatives to collect information on recyclable materials diverted from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. The greater goal is to document recycling and the use of recyclables in manufacturing in Texas, as well as evaluate multiple recycling economic issues in greater detail. Since the Recycling Market Development Plan requests recycling and economic data from private recycling companies, Burns and McDonnell is taking every measure allowed by law to protect confidentiality and has a confidentiality plan available for survey participants.

Participation is crucial for the Plan to be successful. Recycling processors and end- market representatives across Texas are encouraged to contribute to this effort and to help spread the word through their various professional networks. The survey will close to participants on August 31st, 2020. The results of the survey will be included in the TCEQ report, “Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review.”

For more information, visit www.txrecyclingstudy.org.

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