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Introduced June 24, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress June 24, 2025
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to collect, standardize, and report national- and state-level data on recycling and composting infrastructure, materials flows, contamination, and end-market prices; directs the Government Accountability Office to report on federal agency recycling and procurement; and directs EPA to develop a metric and study on recyclable materials diverted from circular markets. Authorizes $4 million per year for 2025–2029 to implement these activities, prohibits imposing unfunded mandates on state/local governments and Tribes, and protects certain confidential information from public disclosure.
The bill provides standardized definitions, national data, and targeted assistance to help states and communities expand recycling and composting while preserving subnational budget autonomy, but it raises costs and reporting burdens for local programs and increases federal spending and some opacity that could create uncertainty or limit implementation if appropriations are not provided.
States, local governments, and recyclers will get a national inventory, standardized recycling-rate estimates, technical assistance, and end-market price data from EPA, giving communities clearer information to plan and invest in recycling and composting infrastructure.
Local and state agencies, compost producers, and municipal organics programs will have clearer, standardized statutory definitions for 'recycling', 'recyclable material', 'compost', and related terms, and EPA authority to add biomass feedstocks, which supports consistent program design and market development.
Communities, manufacturers, and taxpayers will benefit from new decade-long metrics on materials lost from recycling streams and improved measurement that can identify opportunities to keep materials in circular markets and increase recycled feedstocks.
Local governments, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), composters, and haulers may face higher sorting, processing, and reporting costs to meet stricter specifications and data-collection expectations, potentially leading to higher local fees or taxes.
Expanded federal reporting, technical assistance, GAO reporting, and the authorized program funding will increase federal spending and administrative costs that taxpayers ultimately fund.
Broad EPA discretion to add biomass feedstocks and the use of statutory definitions by reference could create regulatory uncertainty for businesses and municipalities and limit flexibility for tribes or states seeking tailored approaches.