119 HR 9987 IH: Recycling Infrastructure and Data Accountability Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-07-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9987IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 30, 2026Mr. Lawler (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Recycling Infrastructure and Data Accountability Act.

2.

EPA study and report on a National Recycling Data and Infrastructure Tracking Database

(a)

Study

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance. (2)

Inclusions

In conducting the study under this subsection, the Administrator shall— (A)identify regions with limited access to recycling infrastructure, excessive distances for transporting recyclable materials, and high reliance on landfill disposal; (B)identify and catalog the location, facility type, ownership, capacity, materials accepted, and annual throughput of all waste facilities and recycling facilities with an annual throughput of not less than 25,000 tons (or other threshold the Administrator determines appropriate); (C)analyze the permitted and operational processing capacity of facilities identified under subparagraph (B); (D)analyze challenges for permitting, and economic barriers impacting, the development, expansion, modernization, and operation of recycling facilities and material recovery facilities; and (E)identify geographic areas where additional recycling facilities or material recovery facilities are needed to improve collection access, reduce transportation distances, or increase processing capacity. (b)

Report

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including recommendations regarding the establishment of a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance. (c)

National Recycling database

If, pursuant to the study conducted under subsection (a) and the report submitted under subsection (b), the Administrator finds that establishing a standardized national database for tracking recyclable materials, recycling infrastructure capacity, material recovery outcomes, landfill diversion, geographic areas with limited access to recycling collection services and processing facilities, and extended producer responsibility program performance is feasible, and recommends establishing such a standardized national database, not later than 1 year after the date the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Administrator shall establish and maintain publicly online such a standardized national database. (d)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)

Extended producer responsibility program

The term extended producer responsibility program means a Federal, State, Tribal, or local government program under which producers of products or packaging bear financial or operational responsibility for the collection, recycling, reuse, or end-of-life management of such products or packaging.