Can New Recycling Rules Increase Jobs?
There has been much discussion over the past few years about “green jobs” in the new economy.
According to the group, Friends of the Earth, if the UK set a higher recycling target, 50,000 new jobs could be created.
Their report, More jobs, less waste, shows that if the UK recycled 70% of waste collected locally, it would create new jobs across the country. The report concludes that at least 18,800 jobs could be created if commercial and industrial waste were recycled at the same rate.
According to Recycling Resources, the report comes just as the UK coalition government has begun reviewing its waste policy. England, Wales and Scotland have both set a 70% recycling goal by 2025. Northern Ireland and England have both set less ambitious goals of 50%.
“If the Coalition is serious about creating a green, jobs-rich economy then it must unlock the wealth in our waste and help consumers to recycle as much as possible,” said Julian Kirby, FOE’s waster campaigner, in a prepared statement.
The report also cites numbers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that show that recycling generates $236 billion in economic activity and employs 1.1 million people.
What are we waiting for? Hopefully we can commission a similar study and prove to all that recycling is a win-win situation for all parties.
Hopefully the new Congress will consider increasing reccyling jobs, as part of its green programs as well as its job creation programs.
Let’s Make Every Day Earth Day.
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Robert Piller, experienced in green marketing campaigns and recycled promotional products. His web site includes a comprehensive advertising specialty search, featuring over 250,000 eco promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find recyclable, biodegradable, organic or recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame. View the Go Green website at EcoMarketingSolutions.com and comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com.
