The Panel on Materials Policy of the Public Works Committee heard testimony by an Aluminum Association spokesman regarding S.3560, S.3549. S.3277 and S.3723. I serve as chairman of the Association and concur in those views. I also am president and chief operating officer of Aluminum Company of America. In that capacity I would like to make some additional comments regarding these bills and respectfully request that this letter be made a part of the record of the hearings. Alcoa, as a producer of packaging materials and other products that enter the solid waste stream, is very concerned about refuse disposal and solid waste recovery. The solid waste stream is a potentially valuable source of aluminum, and Alcoa already has taken positive steps to develop it as a metal source. Our company is a charter member of the National Center for Resource Recovery. We are participating in several projects to develop equipment and procedures for recovering aluminum from urban solid waste. In 1969, we initiated the highly successful Alcoa "Yes We Can" program to reclaim and recycle aluminum beverage cans. We strongly endorse S.3560, the Randolph Bill, because it will encourage systematic expansion of resource recovery and waste disposal technology by private industry working with government. We believe resource recovery can harness the energy in refuse to provide new energy resources. And we believe recovery systems can economically reclaim resources to make a major addition to the nation's raw materials. Resource recovery equipment and systems already available can substantially defray waste processing costs through the sale of recovered materials. Senator Jennings Randolph We support federal legislation to insure markets for recoverable materials, some of which already are in high demand. Scrap aluminum beverage cans, for example, are purchased from consumers for 15 cents a pound at more than 1000 reclamation centers operated by beverage, scrap metal and aluminum companies. We oppose granting packaging regulatory power to the Environmental Protection Agency as provided in other bills under consideration. We believe the ultimate packaging choice should lie with the consumer, the manufacturer and the packaging industry. We reject the notion that mandating package design or material will meaningfully contribute to solving the litter or solid waste disposal problems. To insure maximum utilization and recovery and reuse of resources, we believe the Federal Government should: 1) promote markets for recovered materials, 2) provide funding for technical development, 3) fund new resource and energy recovery systems, and 4) encourage the use of recycled materials by government and the private sector. Of the bills being considered, we believe your bill, S.3560, is the most appropriate vehicle to accomplish the short-term and long-term waste disposal and resource recovery needs of the nation. We support it as being in the best interest of government, industry and most importantly, the consumer. STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN RETAIL FEDERATION BEFORE THE PANEL ON MATERIALS POLICY OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS CONCERNING SOLID WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY LEGISLATION AUGUST 2, 1974 AMERICAN RETAIL FEDERATION Mr. Chairman and members of the Panel on Materials Policy: The American Retail Federation wishes to thank you for this opportunity to submit a statement expressing the views of our members on the solid waste bills before the Senate. The American Retail Federation is comprised of 50 state retail associations, 32 national retail associations, and sustaining corporate members. Through the total membership, the Federa Retailing tion represents over 1 million retail establishments. constitutes over 20% of the Gross National Product with over 11 million workers employed in retailing in the United States. Retailing as an industry is an integral part of every community. Every city and town, no matter how large or how small, has retailing establishments as part of its economy. For this reason, the communities' problems are retailing's problems. Retailers recognize that solid waste disposal and resource recovery are an area of concern in our Country today, an area in which the Federal government should play a role. Laws protecting the environment are important. Retailing has supported major environmental proposals. The American Retail Federation also supports solid waste disposal legislation. The Federation recognizes that the legislation passed in Congress will greatly affect the success of this vital program. Some of the legislative proposals before you have far reaching consequences and will radically disrupt existing patterns. Vital studies are now being conducted concerning solid waste handling and methods of control. The Federation urges that these studies be completed and reviewed by Congress before enact ing and establishing new major programs in solid waste management and resource recovery. On June 22, 1974, the "Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974" was signed into law (P.L. 93-319). This Act directs the Federal Energy Administration to study and to report to Congress within six months on: Sec. 8(a) (2) "alternative requirements, incentives, or disincentives FEA is also directed to do other solid waste related studies. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency's Second Report to Congress on "Resource Recovery and Source Reduction" indicates the need for caution and careful consideration of the technical, economic and social problems involved in establishing a comprehensive solid waste management scheme. EPA has not completed some of the studies in this area under the Resource Recovery Act of 1970. The results, including the social and economic costs to society in general and to the business community in particular, of various proposals are not yet known. It is our belief that, in view of this earlier law, Congress should await the results of the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress' mandated studies. The Executive branch studies being conducted are at the direction of and for the benefit of the Legislative branch. Legislative action does not and should not always reflect departmental findings, but the legislature should await the results. |