PRIA Logo™
119-hr-4109119th Congress

Recycling and Composting Accountability Act

Sponsored By: Representative Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a national reporting and data framework to standardize recycling and composting metrics and track end-markets. It puts the EPA in charge and requires common definitions, facility inventories, a diversion metric, and recurring reports and studies to understand infrastructure and markets.

Show full summary
  • The Government Accountability Office and federal agencies will face recurring reviews of federal recycling and procurement practices, with GAO reports every 2 years through 2033 that emphasize products with recyclable or compostable content.
  • The EPA must build the program and deliver key tools on a schedule, including a diversion metric within 1 year and an inventory of materials recovery facilities within 3 years to map capacity and barriers.
  • Recycling and composting operators and markets will get standardized definitions, regular end-market data, and inventories that aim to clarify domestic and international sales and barriers to scaling composting and recycling. Confidentiality protections are included for sensitive data and the law bars unfunded federal mandates.

*This will increase federal spending by $4.0 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More federal recycling and composting data

If enacted, the bill would define key words like "compost", "compostable material", "recyclable material", and "recycling". The EPA would collect data and estimate State and national recycling rates every two years using voluntary State data. The EPA would produce a composting infrastructure report within 2 years and an inventory of materials recovery facilities within 3 years, updated every 4 years. The EPA would develop a diversion metric within 1 year and then study the prior 10 years within 1 year after that. The EPA would also report, within 3 years, on domestic and international end‑market sales for recyclables and compost, where practicable.

Federal recycling and procurement reports

If enacted, the bill would require the Comptroller General to report to Congress within 2 years and every 2 years thereafter until 2033. The reports would show federal agencies' recycling and composting rates and estimate how much they buy that contains recyclable or compostable material. The reports would also identify agency actions that promote recycling and steps agencies could take to do more.

Funding and rules for EPA program

If enacted, the bill would authorize $4,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for the EPA to carry out the program. It would prevent the EPA or Commerce Secretary from imposing mandates on States, local governments, or Tribes that require money unless funding is available. It would also bar publishing privileged or confidential business information collected under certain parts of the law.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 6/24/2025

  • Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 8/19/2025

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/26/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/25/2025

  • Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/20/2026

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2026

  • Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation