Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced the Zero Waste Act, which creates federal grants to support municipalities in recycling and waste reduction efforts. The recently introduced legislation provides federal funding to help municipalities invest in waste recovery and reduction initiatives. The program would be carried out by the U.S. EPA and would be funded with up to $250 million from 2020 through 2027, according to the bill text.
The bill text indicates investments would focus on several key initiatives, including “creating demand for sorted recyclable commodities and refurbished goods and promoting domestically-owned and operated manufacturing for projects relating to source reduction of waste prevention.” Other areas of investment would include projects advancing source reduction, organics processing infrastructure and electronics reuse and recycling.
Lawmakers are bringing plastics recycling to the federal level with a legislative proposal that includes a national bottle bill and extended producer responsibility.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) are proposing national extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging, minimum recycled-content mandates for certain materials, a nationwide container deposit and more. The proposed plan includes measures to increase plastic product recyclability and improve recycling capacity; to reduce plastic pollution and remove certain single-use products from use; and to create a pot of money available for state grants. It is expected that they will formally introduce legislation in the fall of 2019. SGIA’s Government Affairs Department will continue to follow this emerging legislative issue. For more information, contact govtaffairs@sgia.org.
The bill text indicates investments would focus on several key initiatives, including “creating demand for sorted recyclable commodities and refurbished goods and promoting domestically-owned and operated manufacturing for projects relating to source reduction of waste prevention.” Other areas of investment would include projects advancing source reduction, organics processing infrastructure and electronics reuse and recycling.
Lawmakers are bringing plastics recycling to the federal level with a legislative proposal that includes a national bottle bill and extended producer responsibility.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) are proposing national extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging, minimum recycled-content mandates for certain materials, a nationwide container deposit and more. The proposed plan includes measures to increase plastic product recyclability and improve recycling capacity; to reduce plastic pollution and remove certain single-use products from use; and to create a pot of money available for state grants. It is expected that they will formally introduce legislation in the fall of 2019. SGIA’s Government Affairs Department will continue to follow this emerging legislative issue. For more information, contact govtaffairs@sgia.org.