US House of Representatives Passes Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Domestic Recycling Infrastructure

The House Energy and Commerce Committee in the United States has passed two bipartisan bills, taking an important step towards addressing the country's recycling infrastructure challenges. The bills aim to expand recycling access in underserved areas and enhance domestic recycling capacity.

The committee passed the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, bringing substantial improvements to areas that have long lacked adequate recycling services. The bills are focused on rural and underserved areas, specifically those located within a 75-mile radius of the nearest material recovery facility.

Address shortcomings in the rural recycling system.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, jointly introduced by Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, aims to address critical infrastructure gaps and tackle the challenges that have hindered recycling development in many areas.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated, "Rural areas should not be left behind in building recycling infrastructure and economic development opportunities. This bill takes a pragmatic and reasonable approach to expand the coverage of recycling services, assist local collaborations, strengthen domestic supply chains, and create job opportunities for areas that have previously been unable to access these services."

The bill plans to allocate grant funding to states, local governments, tribal nations, and public-private partnership projects, with individual grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $15 million. The funds will be used to expand transfer stations, promote curbside recycling services, and reduce the costs of collecting and transporting recyclable materials.

Industry recognition and favorable momentum in policy advancement

The Plastics Industry Association expressed support for the committee’s bipartisan legislative initiative, saying the bill will effectively advance the development of the circular manufacturing industry.

Association Vice President of Government Affairs Chris Rager said, “The committee’s bipartisan passage of the bill marks a key step forward in improving U.S. recycling infrastructure and optimizing the nation’s recycling system. Expanding access to recycling services, improving data collection and reporting mechanisms, and increasing infrastructure investment are essential to advancing a circular manufacturing economy.”

The Plastics Industry Association commends the leadership shown by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, Republican representative from Alabama; Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., Democratic representative from New Jersey; and the bill’s sponsors, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Joe Neguse, Democratic representative from Colorado.

During last week’s Environmental Subcommittee bill review, House Bill No. 2145 was amended and incorporated into House Bill No. 4109, the Recycling and Composting Responsibility Act, with its legislative provisions aligned with the bipartisan principles established by the sustainable waste management bill previously passed by the Senate.

Chris Rager added, "We urge the House to review and pass this bipartisan bill as soon as possible. This vote also builds momentum for other bipartisan proposals related to recycling and circular manufacturing, including the Recycled Materials Certification Act, the Recycling Technology Innovation Act, and the Packaging Labeling Standards Act. These proposals help unify national standards for the recycling industry, empower investment and research in various recycling technologies, promote the circular use of plastic products, and reduce waste pollution in the environment."