NWRA applauds introduction of PPP flexibility bill in Senate

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) issued a statement applauding Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas and Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware for introducing bipartisan legislation that would help provide relief to the waste and recycling industry from potentially onerous customer bad debt. The bill would increase the Paycheck Protection Program’s (PPP) flexibility by including payments for waste and recycling collection services for purposes of calculating the eligible amount for forgiveness of indebtedness under a PPP loan.

“We thank Senators Boozman and Carper for introducing this NWRA-originated bill to amend the CARES Act to allow PPP funds to be used by businesses to pay for their waste and recycling collection services,” NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith says. “The private sector waste and recycling industry is essential to preventing the spread of disease and illness, especially now during the COVID-19 crisis. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to the president for his signature.”

NWRA conceived the idea and worked with congressional staff and legislative counsel on the language. NWRA has conducted more than 150 teleconferences with congressional staff to urge support for such a measure in both the House and Senate. Separate House legislation addressing the issue was introduced by Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia and Rep. Paul Tonko of New York at the urging of NWRA in May.