United States              Solid Waste and        EPA530-F-94-001
                           Environmental Protection     Emergency Response    June 1994
                           Agency                   (5305)
                           Recycling Means Business:
                           EPA's Market  Development Strategy
                    The three chasing arrows of the recycling logo portray a seemingly simple
            system,,  Materials are collect xi out of the waste stream for recycling.  Next, they are
            processed and used to make ru w products. Finally, the purchase of recycled products
            closes the loop.  Recycling, h< weve;-,  :s much more complex than the symbol indicates.
      ^_    At its core, recyclirg is about >h ftirg  to an environmentally-responsible manufacturing
            economy that conserves natuni  resources, energy,  and disposal capacity.  For this shift
            to take place, numerous barrie s must  be addressed.  For example:

 *  Recycling  businesses often lack ready a cess to  technology,  marketing information, and business
 development assistance.  In addition, recycling businesses are often perceived as risky ventures by
 financiers unfamiliar with the recycling industry.

 >  Many state and local governnent marke:  development programs need mechanisms to coordinate
 their activities, share information, and lean  from each other's experiences.

 >  Government agencies and  private sector entities  often lack partnerships that would enable them to
 work cooperatively to build markets.

 »  Manufacturers and distributors of recycled products often find it difficult to gain access to
 markets provided by large purchasers such is government agencies and large corporations.

 »  Recycled products have not achieved widespread public acceptance due to a lack of performance
 history and general public awareness.

       Market Development, w lich is defined as the process of strengthening or expanding  both
 intermediate and end-uses of materials collected  for reuse or recycling, can mitigate these barriers
 while advancing other national goals of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  such as:

       >  Harmonizing environmental  protection with economic growth
       »>  Preventing pollution and conserving natural resources and energy
       *  Enhancing the capacity of State, Tribal, and  local government programs
       »  Promoting public-private partnerships  and building government alliances
       *  Fostering technology  development  and transfer.

      In this Strategy, EPA is adopting three equally important Market  Development goals that will
guide the Agency's market development activities and leverage other resources outside EPA.
                                                                         Recycled/Recyclable
                                                                         Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that
                                                                         contains at least 50% post-consumer recycled fiber

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                            EPA's Market Development Goals
1) SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE L1\K BETWEEN INCREASED MARKET CAPACITY AND
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

Objectives:    Stimulate interaction and coordination among the economic development,
                financial, and recycling communities.
              Promote the use of recycled feedstock by assisting recycling businesses.

Through leadership and advocacy, EPA can demonstrate that environmental protection and economic
prosperity are complementary pursuits. By implementing this goal, EPA will build bridges between the public
and private sectors, create and expand networks to provide processors and manufacturers with needed
assistance, and encourage them to use recycled feedstock.

2) LEVERAGE FEDERAL RESOURCES AND BUILD FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR MARKET
DEVELOPMENT.

Objectives:    Maximize Federal purchases of recycled products.
              Facilitate access to Federal information, research, and programs.
              Mobilize  Federal  participation in market development.

Acting as a catalyst, EPA can demonstrate ho\\ Federal agencies can further their primary missions while
incorporating environmental protection goals.   Achieving this goal will demonstrate how Federal agencies can
not only procure recycled products, but also participate in the strengthening of recycling infrastructure by
promoting resource efficient approaches and partnerships.

3) DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT MARKETS FOR RECYCLABLES AND
RECYCLED PRODUCTS.

Objectives:    Strengthen State,  Tribal, and local government capabilities.
              Foster the establishment and exchange of market development information.
              Maximize public  and private sector purchases of recycled products.

By helping to create, expand, and disseminate information about existing organizational infrastructures, EPA
can establish foundations for the activities of other groups.   Through this goal, EPA will help improve
existing market development programs, provide opportunities for the exchange of information and lessons
learned, and promote increased procurement of recycled products by the public and private sectors.


       These goals are the basis  for EPA's internal market  development Strategy which will direct EPA
activities in fiscal years 1995-1996 and beyond  I look forward to working with the public and private
sectors to  implement this Strategy which will promote the development of mature recycling markets to
permanently "close the recycling  loop."

                                                Carol M. Browner
                                                EPA Administrator

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