Whereas, Michigan residents are dedicated to protecting our land, ensuring that our air is clean, and preserving the purity of our water; and,

Whereas, To help fulfill these responsibilities, government, businesses, community organizations, and every citizen must work together to serve as good stewards of all of our natural resources; and,

Whereas, From time to time we must renew our commitment to preserving our resources by recycling and using products made with recycled materials; and,

Whereas, Recycling has become one of the most successful environmental initiatives in our Nation’s history, and in 1990, Americans recycled or composted 34 million tons of material, and a decade later this number more than doubled to nearly 70 million tons; and,

Whereas, These efforts are helping to safeguard our environment by reducing the need for landfills and incinerators; and,

Whereas, At home and in school, parents and teachers can educate children and adults about the benefits of recycling and the importance of caring for our environment; and,

Whereas, By purchasing products made from recycled materials, American consumers provide economic incentives for businesses to collect, produce, and market more products that are recycled and recyclable; and,

Whereas, Recyclable material processing directly supports more than 5,000 jobs in the state of Michigan and annually generates nearly $2 billion dollars in revenue from the sale of recyclable commodities; and,

Whereas, By recycling we conserve our valuable resources, protect our air and water from harmful pollutants, and strengthen our economy; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2005, as America Recycles Day and I encourage all citizens to help raise awareness on the need to reduce waste by reusing, recycling, composting, and buying recycled products.