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Witnesses urge federal investment to expand recycling access, strengthen data and reach multifamily and rural households
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Summary
Witnesses described access gaps—one said about 73% of U.S. households have curbside recycling—and urged use of IIJA grants, SWIFR funding, RIAA pilots and EPR to expand service to apartments, rural areas and underserved communities.
Witnesses told the subcommittee that improving collection, labeling and market demand are essential to raising recycling rates and bringing feedstocks to domestic manufacturers.
Keith Harrison, founder and CEO of The Recycling Partnership, said the nation has “not invested in The US system to really level up the recycling rate” and detailed five components of a healthy system: design, capture (access), participation, recovery infrastructure and end markets. She said, “Only 73% of our nation's households have access to recycling,” and identified multifamily housing and rural communities as persistent gaps.
Harrison and other witnesses recommended targeted federal actions: expand Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, pass the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) to fund pilots for communities without nearby facilities, and pursue the Steward Act and Circle Act to support rural and domestic investment. Harrison said investment would create jobs and domestic feedstock: she cited potential benefits including “200,000 new jobs, more than 8,000,000,000 of materials returned to the economy, $11,000,000,000 of savings in taxpayers and local governments.”
Members from both parties described local examples. Rep. Gabe Carter discussed New Orleans’ SWIFR award and how a new material‑recovery facility (MRF) and education can raise diversion from festivals and events. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and others asked about glass and the transportation cost dynamics that make glass recycling financially challenging in smaller counties.
Witnesses said consistent national labeling (PAC Act / BAC Act proposals) and better data collection — through bills that would standardize measurement and reporting — would reduce contamination and boost end‑market confidence. No formal votes were taken; members asked for follow‑up information and pledged to consider how federal grants and tax incentives could be targeted to close access and data gaps.
