July 30, 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To establish a Federal working group for recycled plastic content traceability, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Tracking Plastic Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Federal working group for recycled plastic content traceability
(a) Establishment
There is established a Federal working group for recycled plastic content traceability (referred to in this section as the Working Group).
(b) Members
(1) In general
The Working Group shall be composed of the following members:
(A)
A representative of each of the following departments and agencies, to be designated by the head of the respective department or agency:
(i)
The Environmental Protection Agency.
(ii)
The Federal Trade Commission.
(iii)
The Department of Agriculture.
(iv)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(v)
The Department of State.
(vi)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(vii)
The National Laboratory of the Rockies.
(B)
1 or more representatives of each of the following, to be designated jointly by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Commerce:
(i)
Institutions of higher education.
(ii)
The National Academy of Sciences.
(2) Initial designations
The initial members of the Working Group shall be designated not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Lead agencies
In carrying out the duties of the Working Group under subsection (c)—
(A)
the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall lead the Working Group with respect to developing recommendations for recycled plastic content traceability; and
(B)
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Commerce shall jointly lead the Working Group with respect to all other duties described in that subsection.
(c) Duties
The Working Group, in coordination with States, local governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, material recovery facilities, plastic reclaimers using recycled content, and academic institutions, shall, using the National Recycling Strategy of the Environmental Protection Agency as a guide—
(1)
develop recommendations to increase the use of post-consumer resin and, in developing those recommendations, consider—
(A)
the necessary capacity of and improvements to domestic markets for the use of recycled plastics generated in the United States;
(B)
economic benefits of using post-consumer resin in recycling; and
(C)
ways to monitor and measure the presence of toxic chemicals in post-consumer resin content; and
(2)
develop recommendations to improve the measurement, traceability, and reporting of recycled plastic content in applicable sectors of the economy, including the packaging, construction, infrastructure, and automotive sectors and, in developing those recommendations—
(A)
develop and establish standardized measurements for data collection relating to recycled plastics, which shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with international standards, such as the Australia National Framework for Recycled Content Traceability and standards used in North America and by other trading partners;
(B)
describe a Federal recycled plastic content tracking system for the purpose of assisting in harmonizing State recycled plastic content requirements;
(C)
consider ways to improve trade data clarity related to recycled plastic content traceability, including reevaluating plastic trade codes for recycled content; and
(D)
consider ways to improve traceability of plastic marine debris.
(d) Report
The Working Group shall submit to Congress and make publicly available annual reports describing the activities of the Working Group during the previous year, including—
(1)
a summary of any recommendations developed or updated under subsection (c); and
(2)
a summary of any issues for which recommendations are being considered for development or updating under subsection (c).
(e) Termination
The Working Group shall terminate when the Working Group has fulfilled all duties of the Working Group under this Act, which shall be not later than the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Working Group is established.