Sponsors (10)
Introduced June 24, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress June 24, 2025
The bill provides clearer standards, data, and modest multiyear funding to expand and better target recycling and composting programs—potentially improving access and market demand—but does so while imposing new administrative, compliance, and potential market‑access costs that will fall on taxpayers, smaller operators, and some communities unless Congress funds implementation and agencies manage reporting and outreach carefully.
State, local, and Tribal governments (and the communities they serve) will get standardized data, mapping, technical assistance, and multi-year metrics to design, expand, and target recycling and composting programs, improving access and program performance.
Compost producers, farmers, recyclers, and program operators gain clear statutory definitions and standards (e.g., pathogen reduction, carbon stabilization, specification‑grade recycled material) that improve product quality and make program design and permitting decisions clearer.
Manufacturers, buyers, and local recycling economies may benefit from clearer information on end markets and from increased federal reporting/procurement focus, which can create demand for recycled content and improve marketability of recovered materials and compost.
Taxpayers, federal/state/local agencies, and Tribes face new administrative and reporting burdens and costs to collect, analyze, and publish the inventories, metrics, and biennial reports required by the Act.
Smaller composters, recyclers, and some businesses may incur higher compliance and operating costs to meet specification‑grade, thermal/pathogen, or data-reporting requirements, which could strain small operators or be passed on to consumers.
Tighter definitions linking recycling to 'specification‑grade' end markets risk excluding low‑quality waste streams from recycling pathways, potentially reducing recycling options and diversion for some communities and materials.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Directs EPA and GAO to study and report on recycling/composting infrastructure, diversion metrics, and federal procurement of recycled/compostable materials, and authorizes $4M/year (FY2025–2029).
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency and the Government Accountability Office to study, measure, and report on U.S. recycling and composting systems, federal procurement of recycled/compostable products, and how much recyclable material is being lost from circular markets. Sets deadlines for studies and recurring GAO reports, creates a new diversion metric, defines key terms for composting and recycling, provides modest funding to EPA, and forbids imposing unfunded mandates on states, local governments, or Tribes under the law.