This week as we celebrate National Transportation Week it places a spotlight on our transportation infrastructure. Besides the U.S. Postal Service, waste and recycling is the only other industry that travels every road in the U.S. at least once each week making it a significant stakeholder on this topic.

Congestion and road repairs impact the waste industry’s ability to deliver its services. A diverse set of revenue and financing streams are vital to generate the funding needed to build new and repair the nation’s infrastructure.

NWRA is encouraging Congress to work together and with the Trump Administration to fund reauthorization of the FAST Act, otherwise known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, set to expire later this year.

In addition, the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA) is a key bipartisan surface transportation bill created for our transportation infrastructure. On top of creating new programs around safety, resiliency, and emission reductions, it increases funding to the Highway Safety Improvement Program and supports state-led initiatives to lower driver and pedestrian fatalities, which can protect frontline waste and recycling collection employees. The NWRA also supports the inclusion of safety provisions like state “Move Over” laws covering the waste and recycling industry.

“NWRA is proud to support robust investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure. It will make roads and bridges safer for our industry’s workforce and customers, reduce transportation costs, and make us more competitive globally,” said Darrell Smith, NWRA President and CEO.