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SENATE 1194118th CongressHeld at the desk.

Recycling and Composting Accountability Act

Last Action
3/15/2024

Actions

  • 2024-03-15Held at the desk.
  • 2024-03-15Received in the House.
  • 2024-03-14Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  • 2024-03-12Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2369-2370)
  • 2024-03-12Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  • 2024-03-12Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2368-2370)
  • 2023-06-22Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 105.
  • 2023-06-22Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. With written report No. 118-42.
  • 2023-06-22Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. With written report No. 118-42.
  • 2023-04-26Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration held. Business Meeting printed. S. Hrg. 118-708.
  • 2023-04-26Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  • 2023-04-19Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • 2023-04-19Introduced in Senate

CRS Summary

As of 2024-03-12 (55)

Recycling and Composting Accountability Act

This bill establishes data collection and reporting requirements concerning composting and recycling programs.

Specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue several reports related to composting and recycling, including a report on the capability of the United States to implement a national composting strategy in order to reduce contamination rates for recycling.

The EPA must also

  • inventory certain facilities that recycle residential materials and describe the materials that the facilities can process;
  • collect data related to curbside and drop-off recycling and composting programs in order to establish a comprehensive baseline of data for the U.S. recycling system; and
  • develop and disseminate best practices that states, local governments, and Indian tribes may use to enhance recycling and composting.

The EPA must also develop a metric for determining the proportion of recyclable materials in commercial and municipal waste streams that is being diverted from circular markets, which are markets that utilize industrial processes and economic activities to enable post-industrial and post-consumer materials used in those processes and activities to maintain their highest values for as long as possible. After developing the metric, the EPA must then study the proportion of recyclable materials in such waste streams that were diverted from those markets in the prior ten years.

Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the recycling practices of federal agencies.

Cosponsors (11)

  • Shelley Capito (R-WV)
  • John Boozman (R-AR)
  • Bob Casey (D-PA)
  • Christopher Coons (D-DE)
  • Angus King (I-ME)
  • Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
  • Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
  • Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID)
  • Susan Collins (R-ME)

Subjects

  • Congressional oversight
  • Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
  • Environmental education
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Solid waste and recycling
  • State and local government operations
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.