NWRA recognizes Infrastructure Week

The seventh-annual Infrastructure Week began May 13. The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) has announced it is among the more than 500 organizations that have come together under the Infrastructure Week banner to support modernizing the infrastructure across the U.S.

“NWRA is proud to support robust investment in our infrastructure. It will make roads and bridges safer for our industry’s workforce and customers, reduce transportation costs and make us more competitive globally,” NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith says.

“Infrastructure is more than just transportation, though,” he continues. “Incentivizing increased domestic recycling capabilities is a vital part of any infrastructure package if we are to ensure the American economy’s continued growth.” 

China historically has imported massive quantities of waste materials from the U.S. to be recycled and used in its manufacturing of new products. This was a mutually beneficial relationship until China closed its markets to U.S. imports, NWRA says. China’s import ban on recyclable materials coupled with the resurgence of the U.S. manufacturing sector have pushed the need for increased domestic recycling infrastructure to the forefront.

NWRA called upon Congress and the Trump administration to do everything they can to implement tax credits, block grants and regulatory relief encouraging the development of stronger domestic recycling infrastructure.