STEWARD Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 351
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-08T11:03:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The STEWARD Act of 2025 aims to enhance recycling accessibility and infrastructure in the United States, particularly in underserved communities, while improving data collection and reporting on national recycling and composting programs. It seeks to reduce waste, promote sustainable practices, and support the development of markets for recycled and composted materials through federal grants and EPA-led initiatives.
Key Provisions
- Pilot Grant Program (Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program):
- Established by the EPA Administrator within 18 months of enactment.
- Awards competitive grants to eligible entities (states, local governments, Indian Tribes, or public-private partnerships) to fund infrastructure projects in underserved communities using a "hub-and-spoke" model (central hubs like materials recovery facilities connected to local collection points).
- Eligible projects include increasing transfer stations (facilities that consolidate recyclables for transport), expanding curbside recycling (pickup from residential areas), and leveraging partnerships to lower collection and transport costs.
- Grants range from $500,000 to $15,000,000; at least 70% of funds are set aside for projects in underserved communities (areas lacking full recycling access due to distance, cost, or capacity limits).
- Federal funding covers up to 95% of project costs; funds cannot be used for recycling education.
- EPA must submit a report to Congress within 2 years of the first grant, detailing recipients, actions taken, and impacts on recycling rates.
- Authorized funding: $30 million annually for fiscal years 2025–2029, with up to 5% for administrative costs and technical assistance.
- Data Collection and Reporting on Recycling and Composting:
- Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (a key federal law on waste management) to require EPA to collaborate with states, local governments, and Indian Tribes on reports and inventories.
- Composting and Recycling Infrastructure Report: Due within 2 years, evaluates barriers (e.g., laws hindering composting), describes existing programs, estimates expansion costs and land needs, and reviews manufacturer shifts to compostable packaging.
- Inventory of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Every 4 years starting 3 years after enactment, detailing the number of MRFs (dedicated facilities that sort residential recyclables into marketable commodities) per state and materials they process (e.g., plastics by type, paper, metals, glass).
- National Estimates: EPA to gather data on recycling/composting programs, access levels, barriers (e.g., transportation issues), contamination rates (unwanted materials in recyclables), participation rates, and program costs/benefits.
- Recycling Rates: Biannual voluntary data collection to develop state-level and national recycling rates (percentage of materials diverted from waste to recycling or composting facilities).
- End-Market Reports: Within 3 years, update existing reports on sales of recyclables (domestic and international, in dollars per ton) and prepare a new report on compost sales.
- Protects confidential business information (e.g., trade secrets) from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Federal Agency Oversight:
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must issue biennial public reports (starting 2 years after enactment, through 2033) on federal agencies' recycling/composting rates, purchases of products with recycled or compostable materials, and recommendations for improvement.
- Study on Material Diversion:
- EPA to develop a metric within 1 year for measuring how much recyclable material (e.g., aluminum, plastics, paper) is removed from the "circular economy" (a system where materials are reused indefinitely) via disposal.
- Follow-up study and report to Congress within 2 years, covering 10 prior years, evaluating impacts on recycling rates, material utilization, and consumer prices.
- Authorized funding for data activities: $4 million annually for fiscal years 2025–2029.
- Prohibits unfunded mandates on states, local governments, or Indian Tribes; ensures nondisclosure of sensitive data.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (4011) to Subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, expanding EPA's role in tracking and reporting on composting and recycling infrastructure, which previously focused more on general waste disposal without detailed national inventories or composting-specific evaluations.
- Builds on the National Recycling Strategy and Save Our Seas 2.0 Act by requiring updates to end-market reports and introducing metrics for circular economy diversion, filling gaps in standardized data collection.
- Introduces voluntary, collaborative data gathering to avoid mandates, differing from more prescriptive environmental laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: EPA gains new responsibilities for grant administration, data collection, and reporting, potentially increasing workload but with dedicated funding; local governments and Indian Tribes may access grants to expand services, reducing costs through partnerships.
- Citizens: Improves recycling access in underserved areas (e.g., rural or low-income communities), potentially increasing convenience and participation rates; better data could lead to more efficient waste management nationwide, reducing landfill use and environmental pollution.
- International Relations: Enhanced tracking of international recyclable sales could inform trade policies on waste exports, promoting U.S. competitiveness in global recycling markets without direct foreign policy changes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EPA and Federal Agencies: Primary implementers, including GAO for oversight.
- States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes: Eligible for grants and data collaboration; benefit from technical assistance to improve programs.
- Public-Private Partnerships and Businesses: Can apply for grants; manufacturers (e.g., those using compostable packaging) face indirect pressure through market evaluations.
- Citizens in Underserved Communities: Direct beneficiaries of improved infrastructure and access.
- Recycling Industry (e.g., MRF Operators, Compost Facilities): Gain from expanded markets and data on capacities, potentially boosting investment.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes voluntary participation and protects confidential information under existing laws (e.g., Freedom of Information Act exemptions), minimizing litigation risks; no unfunded mandates align with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, ensuring compliance without imposing costs on non-federal entities.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with federalism principles, as it relies on grants and collaboration rather than overriding state authority; supports environmental goals under the Commerce Clause by addressing interstate waste issues.
- Political: Advances bipartisan environmental priorities like sustainability and waste reduction, potentially influencing future legislation on circular economies; the focus on underserved communities addresses equity concerns, but funding levels ($34 million total annually) may spark debates on adequacy amid broader climate initiatives.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: Held at the desk.
- 2025-11-20: Received in the House.
- 2025-11-20: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-11-20: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8395-8398; text: CR S8395-8398)
- 2025-11-20: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- 2025-02-05: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 7.
- 2025-02-05: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-02-05: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-02-05: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Committee consideration held. Business Meeting printed. S. Hrg. 119-267.
- 2025-02-05: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-01-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-01-30: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (26 pages)
- Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-30 — PDF (23 pages)
- Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (24 pages)