July 30, 2026
Mr. Lawler (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Recycling Infrastructure and Data Accountability Act
.
Sec. 2. EPA study and report on a National Recycling Data and Infrastructure Tracking Database
(a) Study
(1) In general
The Administrator shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance.
(2) Inclusions
In conducting the study under this subsection, the Administrator shall—
(A)
identify regions with limited access to recycling infrastructure, excessive distances for transporting recyclable materials, and high reliance on landfill disposal;
(B)
identify and catalog the location, facility type, ownership, capacity, materials accepted, and annual throughput of all waste facilities and recycling facilities with an annual throughput of not less than 25,000 tons (or other threshold the Administrator determines appropriate);
(C)
analyze the permitted and operational processing capacity of facilities identified under subparagraph (B);
(D)
analyze challenges for permitting, and economic barriers impacting, the development, expansion, modernization, and operation of recycling facilities and material recovery facilities; and
(E)
identify geographic areas where additional recycling facilities or material recovery facilities are needed to improve collection access, reduce transportation distances, or increase processing capacity.
(b) Report
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including recommendations regarding the establishment of a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance.
(c) National Recycling database
If, pursuant to the study conducted under subsection (a) and the report submitted under subsection (b), the Administrator finds that establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance is feasible, and recommends establishing such a standardized national database, not later than 1 year after the date the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Administrator shall establish and maintain publicly online such a standardized national database.
(d) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Extended producer responsibility program
The term extended producer responsibility program means a Federal, State, Tribal, or local government program under which producers of products or packaging bear financial or operational responsibility for the collection, recycling, reuse, or end-of-life management of such products or packaging.