Members press for federal EPR, labeling and funding while debating global plastics treaty role
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Summary
Members and witnesses discussed pending recycling bills, extended producer responsibility, national labeling standards and the U.S. role at global plastics treaty negotiations; witnesses urged federal engagement, data funding, and consistent rules to spur investment and market demand for recycled content.
Subcommittee members used the hearing to press for federal action on extended producer responsibility (EPR), national labeling standards and grants to modernize recycling systems.
Ranking Member Paul Tonko urged a systemwide approach that includes reduction and reuse as well as recycling and said basic gaps must be addressed before relying on new technologies: “More than 1 quarter of Americans do not have access to recycling, and less than 1 half recycle at home.” He promoted improved data, labeling and access as immediate priorities.
Members and witnesses discussed several legislative proposals cited during the hearing: - The Recycling and Compost Accountability Act (RCAA) and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) were cited by witnesses as bipartisan bills to strengthen data, access and infrastructure (transcript references to HR 4109 and HR 2145). - Witnesses urged passage of the Steward Act (consolidating previous measures for rural and underserved communities) and the Circle Act, a recycling infrastructure tax-credit proposal introduced the day of the hearing. - Dan Felton and others urged federal labeling standards such as the Packaging and Claims Knowledge Act (PAC Act) to reduce a patchwork of state rules; Representative Weber described a voluntary national standard he called the BAC Act for consistent recyclability claims.
Several members pressed for active U.S. participation in the UN global plastics treaty negotiations and cautioned against production caps or measures that could disadvantage U.S. industry. Ross Eisenberg urged U.S. engagement in Geneva to “arrive at final text” that incentivizes waste management and collection. At the same time, members including Rep. Raul Ruiz and Rep. Bobby Rush (remarks mirrored in testimony) stressed that treaty outcomes should not undermine domestic manufacturing or public health protections.
Witnesses recommended immediate steps for the committee: mark up and pass existing infrastructure- and data-focused bills, support a federal recyclability labeling framework, fund data collection and education, and align procurement to support domestic recycled-content markets. The subcommittee recorded testimony and no formal actions were taken at the hearing.
