WASTE AND RECYCLING ISSUES

• Lithium Batteries – NWRA supports policies that expand safe lithium-ion battery take-back programs, shift disposal costs to producers, and promote a national framework to reduce fires and protect recycling infrastructure.
• Recycled Materials – NWRA supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to advance a National Recycling Strategy and urges Congress and federal regulatory agencies to implement policies that reduce contamination in the recycling stream, increase processing efficiency, encourage development of the domestic market for recycled materials and focus on actions with the greatest overall environmental benefits.
• National “Bottle Bill” – NWRA opposes implementation of national “Bottle Bill” legislation that places mandatory tax deposits on single-use plastic and aluminum beverage containers.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – Although NWRA prefers efforts focused on increasing demand for recyclable materials to allow market forces to incentivize recycling, NWRA also may support the design of EPR programs that allows for input from, and gives priority to, the waste and recycling sector in the distribution of funds. Any successful EPR legislation must take into consideration its impact on collection and processing operations while recognizing contractual relationships and existing industry investments.
• Energy Generation – NWRA supports policies encouraging the continued use of landfill-produced methane gas as a renewable energy product, both in electricity and transportation applications, and providing for greater transparency and long-term certainty for our industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program.
• Food Waste – NWRA supports legislation that establishes grants and loans for facilities to install anaerobic digesters that use food or crop waste to produce energy.
• Interstate Waste Restrictions – NWRA opposes efforts to place restrictions on the interstate transfer of waste and recyclables.
• Import/Export of Waste and Recycling Materials – NWRA supports the free movement of waste and recycling material across international borders consistent with international agreements.
• Privatization of Waste and Recycling Services – NWRA supports the privatization of waste collection services at all levels of government when proposed.

SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES

• National “Move Over” Laws – NWRA recommends that the federal government enact incentives for states to adopt “Move Over” laws that cover the waste and recycling industry.
• Third-Party Distracted Driving – NWRA supports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s efforts to combat distracted driving caused by texting, phone use or alcohol/drugs.
• Automated Pickup – NWRA believes automated pickup should be encouraged where it is logistically and economically feasible.
• Commercial Motor Vehicles – NWRA advocates improving the Compliance, Safety, Accountability’s (CSA) “crash causation” rating system, increasing congressional oversight of the CSA’s Safety Fitness Determination and new vehicle/fuel efficiency grants.

INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES

• Surface Transportation Infrastructure – NWRA supports increasing road capacity including a forward-looking view to address future needs.

TAX & TORT REFORM ISSUES

• Federal Excise Tax Repeal – NWRA supports repealing the federal excise tax on the first retail sale of all commercial trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 33,000 pounds.

WORKFORCE ISSUES

• Driver Shortage and Workforce Development – NWRA backs increasing federal support for job training programs at the state and local levels as well as for veterans to address the shortages of commercial vehicle drivers, mechanics and welders.
  
  
• Joint-Employer – NWRA supports codifying that companies cannot be held responsible for labor violations committed by their contractors and opposes a return to the joint-employer standard set by the National Labor Relations Board’s Browning-Ferris decision.