Committee reports Steward Act (S.351) to expand recycling infrastructure; members stress data and reuse efforts
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Summary
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee favorably reported S.351, the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development (Steward Act), after members emphasized data collection, expanding recycling access and an amendment on reuse and refill that was offered and withdrawn.
The committee voted to favorably report S.351, the Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act (the “Steward Act”), preserving bipartisan language negotiated last Congress and sending the measure to the full Senate.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill aims to expand access to recycling services and to create data provisions that help decisionmakers track progress and identify gaps in recycling infrastructure. Supporters portrayed the measure as a step toward closing disparities that leave some communities without feasible recycling options.
Chair Capito described the Steward Act as the result of years of bipartisan collaboration and said it preserves previously negotiated language. Ranking Member Whitehouse urged passage and used his remarks about plastics and microplastics to underline the scale of the waste issue, saying, "We're still learning how plastics affect human health," and listing studies that have found microplastics in human tissues.
An unnamed senator offered an amendment focused on reuse and refill; the senator announced an intent to withdraw the amendment immediately and said they would work with the chair afterward to pursue that policy area. The chair confirmed that staff had conferred and that she would collaborate with members to pursue the reuse and refill element.
Committee action: The chair moved that the committee report S.351 favorably; the motion was seconded and the chair announced, "the ayes have it." The committee recorded a quorum at the time of the vote.
Background: Sponsors said the Steward Act combines two recycling bills passed unanimously by the committee and carried bipartisan Senate support last Congress. The bill includes provisions to measure recycling performance and identify areas that need investment to make recycling economically feasible across communities.
Next steps: Committee members said they will continue to work on implementation details for reuse and refill policies and on data collection provisions as the bill proceeds to the Senate floor.