EPA LOOKS TO IMPROVE RECYCLING RATE

During the recent National Recycling Coalition Annual Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an initiavite to boost the country's recycling rate and to re-direct the nation's attention toward recycling. Some 68 projects with a recycling or waste reduction focus have been grouped together to create the Resource Conservation Challenge. The EPA's role in the Challenge will include establishing partner-ships and alliances with industry, states and environmental groups, as well as providing training tools and technology assistance. If the challenge is successful, the EPA believes the U.S. will be able to increase its recycling rate from 30% to 35% by 2005. According to Marianne Lamont Horinko, EPA Assistance Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response, the organisation is especially targeting building and construction materials and electronics scrap. She said the EPA is looking to make tailored changes to some solid waste classifications as a way of removing regulatory barries to recycling. "We want to encourage recycling while not leting hazardous materials through the door," she remarked.