WASHINGTON–The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) passed of a pair of legislative initiatives U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is championing to improve our nation’s recycling and composting infrastructure.

Boozman recently joined EPW Chairman and Ranking Member, Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), to introduce the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to gather data on our nation’s recycling systems and explore opportunities for implementing a national composting strategy. The senators also introduced the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act that would allow the EPA to create a pilot program to improve recycling services in underserved areas. 

“These legislative initiatives will help preserve our resources and improve our nation’s recycling and composting capabilities. I’m pleased EPW Committee members unanimously advanced these efforts so we can leverage the economic and environmental benefits of recycling. I’ll continue working with Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito to pass this legislation on the Senate floor and encourage our House colleagues to follow our lead and send these bills to the president’s desk to be signed into law,” said Boozman, a co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus.

“The EPW Committee continues to lead the way in advancing bipartisan recycling solutions that are good for our environment and good for our economy,” said Carper, a co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. “Our bipartisan legislation would help address several of the challenges facing our nation’s recycling and composting efforts, like improving access to these services and the availability of sound data. I commend Ranking Member Capito, Senator Boozman, and our EPW colleagues for their support, and I look forward to building on this momentum as we work to bring these bills to the full Senate soon.”

“Today, the EPW Committee took an important step in making it easier for more people to recycle, especially in rural states like West Virginia, which is good for the environment and our economy,” said Capito. “These bills would implement commonsense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country, and create good-paying jobs in our communities. EPW continues to make progress on bipartisan solutions on a range of issues, and I appreciate Chairman Carper, Senator Boozman, and the whole committee for once again working together as we lay the foundation for increased recycling and composting in the future.”

Following last week’s introduction of the legislation, Boozman joined Carper and Capito on the Senate floor to speak about the bills’ economic and environmental benefits.

Here is what recycling advocates and industry are saying about these legislative efforts:

American Beverage Association

“The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 represent positive steps towards achieving a circular economy for recyclable materials. We support both bipartisan measures and look forward to continuing our work with the Committee on Environment and Public Works to build effective policies that achieve circularity for our beverage containers.”

American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA)

“AF&PA applauds the leadership of Senators Carper, Capito and Boozman on reintroducing the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act. We look forward to working with Congress to address any concerns and move this legislation to improve recycling data and accessibility forward.”

Can Manufacturers Institute

“The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) applauds Sens. Carper, Capito and Boozman for introducing these two bipartisan recycling bills. These bills will help the metal can industry with data to understand where the gaps are in metal can collection and recycling, so we can assess where investments should be made in better collection and sorting. These recycling bills are a good first step in helping the metal can industry achieve its goal of higher national recycling rates for metal cans through better data, consumer incentives and education.

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)

“Recycling is one of the most important activities that all of us can do every day to help protect our environment, conserve natural materials, reduce energy use, and help combat climate change because recycled materials are important building blocks in the global manufacturing chain. For example, using recycled aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy needed to make virgin aluminum. Accordingly, the RCAA would establish baseline data on recycling and composting in the United States and collect data on the amounts of materials that are being diverted to landfills or incineration. This data is essential to fill the existing data gaps and provide policymakers with a better understanding of our nation’s recycling programs as we discuss policy prescriptions.”

National Association of Manufacturers

“The National Association of Manufacturers commends you on reintroducing two bipartisan bills, the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023. These bills are important to achieve a better understanding of current recycling rates, accessibility of recycling infrastructure and solid waste collection in disadvantaged communities. Additionally, these proposals are helpful tools that can bolster the circular economy and increase recycling in communities across the United States.”