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119-s-351119th Congress

STEWARD Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

Passed Senate

Summary

Expands recycling access in underserved communities. This bill funds a competitive pilot grant program to build curbside, transfer, and hub-and-spoke recycling systems and requires a national data and reporting system for recycling and composting.

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  • Families and residents in underserved areas gain more local recycling options like curbside pickup or new transfer stations. Grants range from $0.5 million to $15.0 million per project.
  • States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and public-private partnerships can apply for grants. The federal share can cover up to 95% of costs and at least 70% of program funds must go to projects serving underserved communities.
  • EPA must create a nationwide materials recovery facility inventory and publish biannual standardized recycling rate estimates. The law also requires expanded end-market price reporting for recyclables and compost and Comptroller General reports on federal recycling and procurement through 2033.

*Provides about $34.0 million per year for FY2025–FY2029 in new appropriations, increasing federal spending during that period.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

EPA would track recycling and markets

If enacted, the EPA would get $4 million each year for FY2025–FY2029 to collect recycling and composting data. The EPA would create a standard recycling metric within 1 year after enactment. Within 1 more year, it would study the prior 10 years and send Congress a report. The report would include data for aluminum, plastics, paper and paperboard, textiles, and glass, and show where materials were lost. The report would also review if better programs would improve recycling and affect consumer prices. The bill would protect confidential business data and would bar unfunded mandates by EPA or Commerce.

Regular reports on federal recycling and buying

If enacted, the Comptroller General would publish a public report within 2 years and then every 2 years until 2033. The report would list federal agency recycling and composting rates each year. It would estimate how much recycled, recovered, and compostable material agencies buy, including items listed under federal recycled-content rules and total compostable purchases. It would also list what agencies do now, and what more they could do, to boost recycling and composting.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

WV • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2025

  • Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/30/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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