Reducing Plastic Waste and Modernizing Recycling Infrastructure Bill
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator Sep 23, 2024

On September 19, the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act of 2024 (H.R. 9676) was introduced in the House by Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8) and Don Davis (D-NC-1). The bipartisan legislation seeks to tackle plastic pollution and improve the sustainability of plastic packaging materials by modernizing the nation’s fragmented recycling infrastructure and increasing the use of recycled material.

The legislation would help manufacturers make more products using recycled materials, increase competition, and encourage demand for more products made using recycled materials. The demand piece is critical. With a strong end market that is willing to pay a solid price for the material, recycling will flourish.

Packaging converters have been leaders in designing innovative sustainable packaging. And the legislation which promotes a circular economy for plastics would benefit printing and packaging companies by unlocking opportunities for new revenue streams.

Specifically, the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act would:

  • Create a single national plastic recycling standard to support the National Recycling Strategy, which will help increase our nations’ recycling rates.
  • Spur the use of greater recycled plastic materials by setting a minimum recycled content standard for plastic packaging.
  • Study the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from product materials to better inform policymakers.
  • Create a legal framework for new recycling technologies that will support innovation and continued investment.

The bill would task the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with setting certain national plastic recycling standards by establishing an advisory committee made up of members from plastic packaging designers, consumer brands, plastic manufacturers, recyclers, chemical recyclers, and solid waste businesses. The advisory committee would develop a report outlining proposed standards. The report would assist the EPA when evaluating the National Recycling Goal of increasing the recycling rate to 50 percent by 2030.

The bill also calls for a 30% minimum recycled content rate in plastic packaging by 2030 and would set an evaluation process for tracking progress. This provision is expected to drive private investment in recycling and incentivize the use of packaging designed for recycling. Minimum recycled content requirements have shown up for packaging at the state level, with some states like New Jersey passing recycled content-focused laws, and others proposing requirements within extended producer responsibility (EPR) bills.

The National Academy of Sciences would be tasked with studying the impact of greenhouse gas emissions of certain product materials such as plastics, steel, aluminum, glass, textiles, wood, and paper. Recycling plastic will reduce energy consumption by at least 79% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67%, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers.

The bill would also set detailed definitions for chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling. Advanced recycling technologies do not involve burning plastic, but instead operate with little or no oxygen. This federal legislation properly defines advanced recycling, while some proposed legislation at the state level has mischaracterized advanced recycling as “waste combustion” or “burning plastics.” This is scientifically inaccurate and distracts from the real and noteworthy progress being made for recycling plastics. The bill also proposes a third-party certification system for mass balance of advanced recycling plastics feedstocks.

The Alliance supports H.R. 9676 and thanks Representatives Bucshon and Davis for introducing legislation that would significantly improve our nation’s recycling infrastructure and reduce plastic pollution. We look forward to seeing the bill gain traction in the House and will report on its progress.

The full text of the bill may be found here.

In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator, PRINTING United Alliance, addresses the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act of 2024. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org.

To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.      


Congressional Updates Environmental Legislation
Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Coordinator
Hire This Expert

Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Coordinator for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. She manages all aspects of grassroots advocacy campaigns, including facilitating timely call-to-action alerts and updates to The Advocacy Center on key federal and state legislative issues. As a member of the Office of Corporate Communications, Buka manages the content and audience building responsibilities for the Government Affairs team. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

Related Content

California Passes First U.S. Law Addressing Textile Waste

On September 28, 2024, Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. This novel legislation establishes the country’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) textile recycling program. SB 707 is designed to reduce the amount of textiles sent to landfills. It will also support the development of upcycling and recycling across California and help address the environmental impacts of “fast fashion” and the “throwaway culture” it has created.

PRINTING United Alliance Applauds Introduction of the USPS SERVES US Act

Recognizing that Congress needed to intervene to save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS-2) introduced the USPS Services Enhancement and Regulatory Viability Expansion and Sustainability for the U.S. Act (USPS SERVES US Act, H.R. 9839) on September 25, 2024.

Congress Avoids a Government Shutdown

To avoid a government shutdown, Congress passed on September 25, 2024, and President Biden signed into law, a continuing resolution (CR, H.R. 9747) that will extend funding for the federal government until December 20, 2024. The passage of the CR avoided a government shutdown right before the new fiscal year (FY) began on October 1, 2024. With a CR enacted, members of Congress left their offices on Capitol Hill for a campaigning recess in the run-up to the November 5, 2024 General Election. Congress will return on November 12, 2024, and will have until December 20, 2024 to negotiate bipartisan spending agreements on all 12 FY 2025 appropriations.
}