Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7502

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T08:07:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026 (H.R. 7502) aims to prevent misleading claims about recycled content in products advertised, marketed, sold, or offered for sale to consumers. It establishes clear standards for such claims, including recognition of "mass balance accounting" (a method to track recycled materials through supply chains), and directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to update related guidance.

Key Provisions

• Definitions (Sec. 2): Defines key terms, including:
• Recycled content: Pre-consumer (manufacturing scraps) or post-consumer (used by households/businesses) materials recovered via recycling for new products.
• Mass balance accounting: A chain-of-custody method mixing recycled and conventional materials, allocating recycled portions to products based on inputs/outputs.
• Third-party certification: Independent verification by unbiased organizations ensuring claims meet standards.
• Recycling: Processes like mechanical (reprocessing without chemical change) or non-mechanical (chemical transformation, excluding waste-to-energy for heat/electricity).
• Recognition of Mass Balance Accounting (Sec. 3): Allows this method for substantiating recycled claims if verified by a third-party certification system.
• Prohibition on Misleading Claims (Sec. 4(a)): Bans false recycled content claims; excludes fuels marketed as recycled.
• FTC Guidance (Sec. 4(b)):
• Update "Green Guides" (FTC's environmental marketing rules) within 1 year to align with this Act.
• Issue guidance affirming mass balance accounting (if certified and evidence-based) and providing a framework for accurate claims.
• Guidance is non-binding and cannot form the sole basis for enforcement.
• Enforcement (Sec. 5): Treats violations as unfair/deceptive acts under the FTC Act, giving FTC full investigative and penalty powers.
• Preemption (Sec. 6): Overrides state/local laws on recycled content claims and enforcement.
• Savings Provision (Sec. 7): Ensures invalid parts do not affect the rest; does not override other federal laws except as specified.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Explicitly authorizes mass balance accounting for recycled claims, previously not standardized in FTC Green Guides.
• Mandates Green Guides update to incorporate Act's definitions and methods.
• Creates uniform federal standards, preempting varying state rules.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: FTC gains clearer authority/enforcement tools for green marketing claims; must issue timely guidance.
• Citizens/Consumers: More reliable product labeling on recycled content, reducing deception in purchases.
• Businesses: Standardized way to claim recycled content (e.g., via mass balance), but requires third-party certification and scientific evidence; excludes fuels.
• International Relations: None directly addressed; focuses on domestic consumer sales.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Manufacturers/Sellers: Must substantiate claims accurately, potentially using mass balance with certification.
• Consumers: Benefit from truthful advertising.
• FTC: Primary enforcer with expanded guidelines.
• Third-Party Certifiers: Role in verifying mass balance compliance.
• States/Local Governments: Lose ability to enforce conflicting rules.
• Recycling Industry: Promotes legitimate claims, aiding market growth.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens FTC Act enforcement for environmental claims; guidance non-binding protects against lawsuits claiming it creates private rights.
• Constitutional: Preemption clause may face challenges under federalism (10th Amendment), but aligns with FTC's commerce authority.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (11 House members); establishes national uniformity without mandating recycling, focusing on truthful marketing.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-02-11: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Recycled Materials Attribution Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (11 pages)