R4 Initiative- Memorandum

A Memorandum of Understanding for

Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling

A Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling.
This Memorandum of Understanding (Agreement) is entered by and between the R4 Initiative Organization (hereinafter referred to as the “R4”), and _______________________________ (hereinafter referred to as the “PARTNER”), as an expression of their good faith agreement to increase environmental awareness and promote recycling through public education and outreach programs, pursuant to the roles and responsibilities set forth in this Agreement.

Creates No Binding Obligation
Nothing contained in this Memorandum of Understanding is intended to create a legally binding obligation or rights on any signatory hereto or any third party not a signatory to this agreement. Notwithstanding any language used herein that may give rise to a contrary implication, this document creates no legal rights or obligations.

Preamble
This memorandum represents a voluntary, good faith and transparent partnership between the “R4” and the “PARTNER” to increase and enhance environmental awareness and promote recycling. While the focus is to increase environmental awareness, the signatories recognize that long-term efforts must address all the social, environmental and economic facets of what is becoming commonly known as sustainable development.1 This agreement is meant to promote the concept of product stewardship, which asks manufacturers to reduce the environmental impacts of their product throughout its life cycle.2
While technical, logistical and communications barriers exist to economically recovering post consumer waste, the signatories are committed to working together to overcome these barriers and to develop a system that identifies and treats discarded post consumer waste as a resource rather than a waste product.

Addition of Parties to the Agreement
Parties may be added to this Agreement at any time pending approval by the R4 Organization.

Withdrawal of Parties to the Agreement
Any signatory to this Agreement may withdraw at any time upon 90 days notice in writing to the R4 Organization. The reasons for withdrawal shall be given and offered in the spirit of advising other signatories on improving and enhancing the progress toward the goal of increased environmental awareness and recycling programs.

Effective Period
This Agreement shall be effective upon the date of signature. This Agreement will remain in effect for a period of five (5) years unless modified, superseded by another agreement or terminated.

Signature supporting this Memorandum of Understanding:

Name: ______________________________________
Title: ________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________
Organization: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________________

The undersigned parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

Roles and Responsibilities of the Parties

R4 Organization (R4)
For purposes of implementing this agreement, the “PARTNER” agrees to work through the “R4” to increase and enhance environmental awareness and promote recycling. The “PARTNER” agrees to use R4 Organization to:

Develop and enhance the collection infrastructure for post-consumer waste.
Serve as a resource for technical, economic and market development opportunities for post-consumer waste.
Develop and perform quantitative measurement and reporting on research progress of market feasibility for post-consumer waste.
Work collectively to seek and provide funding opportunities for activities to support and increase environmental awareness and recycling programs.
Examine the formulation of partnerships, joint working relationships, joint promotion, and joint responsibilities in order to achieve increased environmental awareness and recycling programs.

“PARTNERS” commit to the following activities to assist in promoting environmental awareness and recycling. Provided services include:

Staff Support for one or more of the R4 committees.
Secretarial, Communication, Logistical support for R4 meetings.
Technical Consultation and Support to other signatories.

Notes

1. Sustainable development means development that maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community well being while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

2. Product stewardship means that all parties involved in designing, manufacturing, selling and using a product take responsibility for environmental impacts of the product at every stage of that product's life.