On April 13th, the STAR Business Council advanced letters to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and each member of the 87th Texas Legislature expressing continued support for the creation of the Recycling Market Development Plan (RMDP). The letter addresses the importance of recycling to the Texas economy and encourages support and action on the Plan’s recommendations when released in September 2021. (See more about the RMDP on our website here.)

The letter also points to the recycling industry's more than $3 billion dollars in economic impact for Texas and the potential for exponential growth under the Plan. A one-pager attached to the letter shared some important industry facts and figures, and the benefits and opportunities provided by the RMDP (accessible here). The letter's intention was to remind the Governor and legislators that the RMDP will be released in September and to look forward to those results.

The goal of the RMDP is to examine the current recycling economy in Texas, discover opportunities for growth, and draft a proposal for action. It also includes the creation of a comprehensive educational campaign to cover the economics of recycling in Texas, highlight businesses that are involved in recycling in Texas, and to reduce contamination. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) retained Burns & McDonnell to complete the project, and STAR is working with them to complete these goals. 

See the full letter to the Governor below or as pdf here.

Dear Governor Abbott:

RE: Recycling Market Development Plan

The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) thanks you for your continued support of the creation of the Recycling Market Development Plan, which passed in the 86th Legislative Session, and which is due for release in Q3 of 2021.

STAR members and stakeholders look forward to continued collaboration with the State and are optimistic that the upcoming recycling plan will identify growth opportunities for both business and industry that could result in more jobs, new technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, and investment for Texas.

Some of these opportunities will require future legislative action and STAR hopes we can count on your support of those efforts in the 88th Legislative Session, for an industry that has demonstrated over $3 billion dollars in economic impact for Texas.

Please see the attached brief which demonstrates enthusiastic participation from both the private and public sectors and offers valuable insight into the solutions for the challenges facing the recycling industry of Texas.

We look forward to working with you, if we may be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Respectfully,

Gigi Gephardt
Chair | STAR Business Council

Brittany Rosenberg
Executive Director | STAR