WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus will speak at a BlueGreen Alliance briefing on the economic and environmental benefits of growing America's recycling industry. The briefing will take place on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Capitol Visitors Center, SVC Room 209-208, U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

As our country works to rebuild our economy, we must think of new ways to put our fellow citizens back to work. Fortunately, some of these new solutions have the potential to benefit both our economy and our environment. A stronger connection between our environment and our economy will help us reduce our reliance on virgin materials, better manage our waste through reuse, recycling and composting, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other toxics in our environment, and at the same time, will help create new jobs in local communities throughout the U.S.

Addressed together, many of today's key environmental and economic challenges can be turned into opportunities. Through utilizing new approaches to managing our natural resources and our waste, existing waste management practices can be transformed to create significant new job opportunities, reduce pollution, and minimize our reliance on virgin materials.

The panel of speakers will discuss the environmental and economic impacts of raising the rate of waste diversion from landfills and incinerators in the U.S. from its current level of 33 percent to 75 percent by 2030. Waste diversion strategies include waste reduction, reuse, remanufacturing, and composting. Done strategically and with an eye toward domestic job creation, the recycling industry can further increase its positive impact on the environment and the economy.

WHAT:
BlueGreen Alliance Briefing: "More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S."

WHO:
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.)
Co-Chair, Senate Recycling Caucus

Lee Anderson
BlueGreen Alliance

James Goldstein
Tellus Institute

Allen Hershkowitz
Natural Resources Defense Council

Robert Morales
Director, International Brotherhood of Teamsters' Solid Waste & Recycling Division

Monica Wilson
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

Michael Sangiacomo
President and CEO, Recology

Michelle Ramirez
Recology Employee and Steward, Teamsters Local Union 350

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

WHERE:
Room SVC 209-208
Capitol Visitors Center
U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC