Finally, Recycling Honesty Becomes Law

  • Tuesday, September 21, 2021
On September 9th, California bipartisan Senate Bill 343 was passed. SB 343 prohibits use of the “chasing arrows” symbol or any other recyclability claim on packaging unless it was approved through a detailed state-led process.

“It’s a basic truth-in-advertising concept,” said California State Senator Ben Allen, a Democrat and the bill’s lead sponsor. “We have a lot of people who are dutifully putting materials into the recycling bins that have the recycling symbols on them, thinking that they’re going to be recycled, but actually, they’re heading straight to the landfill,” he said.

For those of us who’ve run transparent recycling programs, in which we secured markets, BEFORE  accepting items, this law, which will have national ramifications, is music to our ears.
For two decades communities have allowed dirty, sham, non transparent, recycling. Hopefully, elected officials now see the need for serious due diligence before signing on to the next latest, greatest, recycling scheme.

All this mess could have been avoided with recycling transparency laws. Please, recycle like you care: 1. about the safety of all recycling workers, 2. about providing end users with good quality feedstock, and, 3. about transparency/accountability in your community recycling program.

Louise Mann

Opinion
Jerry Summers: Those Who Ignore History!
Jerry Summers: Those Who Ignore History!
  • 7/7/2025

A recent discovery of Volume 2 of “The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga, Tennessee” by Zella Armstrong (1940- The Lookout Publishing Company) presents a poignant reminder that what ... more

Senator Blackburn: On AI, Congress Just Provided A Huge Win For Children, Creators And Conservatives
  • 7/7/2025

Last week, the Senate passed President Trump’s landmark legislation to make America great again, the One Big Beautiful Bill. Among its provisions, there is so much to celebrate: The largest tax ... more

The Federal Government Should Be Out Of The Healthcare Business
  • 7/6/2025

The federal government should be completely out of the healthcare business - excepting VA and military hospitals and maybe a few others. It should be a state issue. That does not mean that ... more