Recycling and Composting Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4109
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-19T08:05:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (H.R. 4109) aims to enhance recycling and composting programs across the United States by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect data, produce reports, and provide technical support. It seeks to improve infrastructure, reduce waste contamination, and promote a "circular economy" (a system where materials are reused rather than discarded), ultimately diverting more waste from landfills.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes clear terms, such as:
- Compost: A soil amendment created through controlled biological breakdown of organic materials, reducing pathogens and stabilizing carbon for plant growth.
- Compostable material: Organic feedstocks like food waste, yard waste, paper, wood, and certified compostable products.
- Recyclable material: Used or surplus items processed into reusable commodities (e.g., via sorting and mechanical transformation).
- Recycling: Activities that turn recyclables into raw materials for new products, replacing virgin (newly sourced) materials.
- Processing: Methods (manual or mechanical) to convert recyclables into marketable forms, which may occur in stages.
- Reports on Infrastructure (Added to Solid Waste Disposal Act as Section 4011):
- EPA must collaborate with states, local governments, and Indian Tribes (sovereign Native American nations) to produce a report within 2 years evaluating composting barriers, infrastructure, costs, land needs, and manufacturer practices for compostable packaging.
- Every 3 years (starting 3 years after enactment), EPA will inventory materials recovery facilities (dedicated sites for sorting residential recyclables, excluding general waste facilities), detailing their capacity for materials like plastics, paper, metals, glass, and food packaging.
- EPA will estimate national data on recycling/composting programs, including access, usage rates, barriers (e.g., location or availability), contamination levels (unwanted items in recyclables), participation, and costs/benefits.
- Biannual data collection to develop state and national recycling rates, used for technical assistance to reduce waste and boost diversion (shifting materials from disposal to reuse).
- Within 3 years, update existing reports on end-markets (sales outlets) for recyclables and compost, including domestic and international sales values (in dollars per ton), while protecting confidential business information under the Freedom of Information Act exemptions.
- Federal Agency Reporting:
- Every 2 years (until 2033, starting 2 years after enactment), the Government Accountability Office (GAO, an independent auditor) will report on federal agencies' recycling/composting rates, purchases of products with recycled or compostable materials (per EPA procurement guidelines), and recommendations for improvement.
- Study on Circular Market Diversion:
- Within 1 year, EPA develops a metric to measure how much recyclable material in commercial and municipal waste is "diverted from a circular market" (lost to disposal instead of reuse).
- Within 2 years, EPA submits a report analyzing 10 prior years of data for specific materials (aluminum, plastics, paper, textiles, glass), evaluating if better programs could raise recycling rates, reduce losses, and impact consumer prices.
- Funding and Administration:
- Authorizes $4 million annually for EPA from fiscal years 2025–2029.
- Prohibits unfunded mandates (requirements without federal funding) on states, locals, or tribes.
- Ensures collected data remains confidential if it qualifies under federal privacy laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (a key 1976 law on waste management) by adding a new Section 4011, expanding EPA's role in data collection and reporting on composting/recycling infrastructure—previously focused more on general waste disposal.
- Builds on the National Recycling Strategy (from a 2021 executive order) by incorporating composting data and contamination reduction.
- References and updates the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (2020 law on marine debris) with an addendum on recyclable sales markets.
- Introduces mandatory GAO oversight of federal procurement under existing EPA guidelines (from the 1988 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act amendments), which promote buying recycled products but lacked regular accountability reports.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: EPA gains resources for data-driven technical assistance, potentially streamlining state/local/tribal programs and reducing inefficiencies (e.g., lower contamination). Federal agencies may increase recycled purchases, cutting procurement costs long-term. States and locals could see improved waste management without new mandates.
- Citizens: Enhanced access to recycling/composting services (aiming for parity with trash disposal) could simplify participation, reduce household waste, and lower landfill use, benefiting public health and environment. Barriers (e.g., rural access) may decrease through targeted support, though impacts depend on local adoption.
- International Relations: Limited; focuses on domestic programs but tracks international sales of recyclables, which could inform trade policies on waste exports (e.g., reducing reliance on foreign markets like China, which restricted imports in 2018).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: EPA (leads implementation), states, local governments, and Indian Tribes (provide data, receive assistance).
- Secondary: Federal agencies (e.g., Department of Defense for procurement reporting); manufacturers and companies (evaluated for compostable products and end-markets); waste management facilities (inventoried for capacity).
- Broader: Citizens and businesses generating waste (gains from better programs); environmental groups (advocacy for circular economy).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes voluntary data collection and confidentiality (under 5 U.S.C. § 552, the Freedom of Information Act), avoiding litigation risks from forced disclosures. No new enforcement penalties; focuses on reporting and study, aligning with existing EPA authority under the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
- Constitutional: Respects federalism by prohibiting unfunded mandates (echoing the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995), ensuring no undue burden on state/tribal sovereignty. Includes Indian Tribes per federal trust responsibilities.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats Neguse and Foster; Republican Burchett) signals broad support for environmental accountability without regulatory overreach. Could influence future waste policy (e.g., integrating with climate goals), but lacks binding targets, making it more facilitative than transformative.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 2026-05-14: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-06-24: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
- 2025-06-24: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-06-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Recycling and Composting Accountability Act — issued 2025-06-24 — PDF (16 pages)