Bill Summary
This legislation, entitled the Recycling Infrastructure Program, was introduced to the United States Congress with the purpose of establishing a program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support and expand recycling infrastructure and programs across the country. The bill defines key terms such as "Administrator" (referring to the head of the EPA), "curbside recyclables" (materials collected separately from municipal solid waste), and "recyclable material" (material that can be collected, separated, and processed for reuse or manufacturing). The Recycling Infrastructure Program would award financial assistance to states, local governments, and tribal governments on a competitive basis to fund projects and programs that expand recycling infrastructure, improve the quality of recyclable materials, and promote education and training for recycling operators. Priority would be given to projects that expand recycling access to underserved areas, use innovative technology, and reduce contamination of recyclable materials. The bill also includes reporting requirements for state, local, and tribal governments receiving financial assistance and provides funding for the program from 2020-2024.
Possible Impacts
1. People living in underserved areas may experience increased access to recycling and collection services, improving their ability to properly dispose of waste and reducing the amount of waste in their communities.
2. Recycling companies and workers may benefit from increased funding for technology and infrastructure, leading to improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.
3. State, local, and tribal governments may have to comply with stricter regulations and report on their progress in implementing recycling programs, potentially requiring them to allocate more resources towards recycling efforts.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5115 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5115
To establish the Recycling Infrastructure Program within the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 15, 2019
Mr. Cardenas (for himself and Mr. Bucshon) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Recycling Infrastructure Program within the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Realizing the
Economic Opportunities and Value of Expanding Recycling Act'' or the
``RECOVER Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Recycling Infrastructure Program.
Sec. 4. Reports.
Sec. 5. Funding.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Curbside recyclables.--The term ``curbside
recyclables'' means those recyclable materials that a
municipality or recycling service provider collects separately
from municipal solid waste.
(3) Curbside recycling.--The term ``curbside recycling''
means the process by which residential recyclable materials are
picked up curbside.
(4) Drop-off facility.--The term ``drop-off facility''
means a site to drop off recyclable materials.
(5) Material recovery facility.--The term ``material
recovery facility'' means a facility equipped for the sorting
of recyclable materials.
(6) Recyclable material.--
(A) In general.--The term ``recyclable material''
means a material that can be collected, separated,
processed, or otherwise derived from a waste stream for
recycling.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``recyclable material''
includes--
(i) ferrous metal;
(ii) nonferrous metal, such as aluminum;
(iii) plastic;
(iv) glass;
(v) paper;
(vi) fiber;
(vii) paperboard;
(viii) household electronics;
(ix) tires;
(x) rubber;
(xi) consumer packaging; and
(xii) consumer durables, such as
automobiles and refrigerators.
(7) Recycling.--The term ``recycling'' means the process of
collecting, sorting, and processing recyclable materials for
reuse, use as a feedstock, or use in manufacturing or
assembling a product, but does not include use of recyclable
materials for electricity or steam generation.
(8) Recycling infrastructure program.--The term ``Recycling
Infrastructure Program'' means the program that may be
established pursuant to section 3(a).
(9) Recycling operation.--The term ``recycling operation''
means an operation that processes recyclable materials from
residential, industrial, or commercial operations through
various manufacturing stages, including separating, shredding,
grinding, crushing, media separation, shearing, or baling.
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other
territory or possession of the United States.
SEC. 3. RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Administrator may establish a program, to
be known as the Recycling Infrastructure Program, to award financial
assistance to States, local governments, and tribal governments, on a
competitive basis, to support and expand the recycling infrastructure
and recycling programs in such States, local governments, and tribal
governments.
(b) Eligible Use of Funds.--A State, local government, or tribal
government may use financial assistance received under the Recycling
Infrastructure Program for projects and programs--
(1) to--
(A) expand recycling infrastructure by expanding or
supporting recycling-related technology or
infrastructure that--
(i) increases recycling or collection
rates;
(ii) expands curbside recycling collection
programs where appropriate;
(iii) expands other collection points and
landfill avoidance programs;
(iv) improves the quality of recyclable
material that is separated from solid waste;
(v) improves sorting and separation of
recyclable materials;
(vi) delivers increased high-quality
feedstocks for use in manufacturing; or
(vii) encourages the use of recyclable
materials in new products;
(B) transition curbside recycling programs to more
efficient collection practices where necessary;
(C) enhance the performance of curbside recycling
and other recycling programs;
(D) promote public space recycling programs;
(E) develop rural recycling systems; or
(F) develop and implement variable rate (commonly
referred to as ``pay-as-you-throw'') funding programs
in which the pricing structure for which the fee for
solid waste collection increases as the amount of solid
waste increases; or
(2) relating to--
(A) consumer education, that--
(i) identify how to recycle and what is
recyclable; or
(ii)(I) highlights the importance of
recycling;
(II) promotes strategies to improve
recyclable material quality; and
(III) is designed to increase
recycling participation and the amount
of materials collected;
(B) marketing opportunities for recyclable
materials in the United States; or
(C) education and training for recycling operators.
(c) State and Local Government Eligibility.--In order to be
eligible to receive financial assistance under the Recycling
Infrastructure Program--
(1) for a project or program described in paragraph (1) or
(2) of subsection (b), a State, local government, or tribal
government shall--
(A) submit to the Administrator an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Administrator may require;
(B) be in compliance with subtitle D of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.); and
(C) have, or will have, a method of tracking and
demonstrating progress on State-wide, local government-
wide, or tribal government-wide recycling rates, and
agree to demonstrate such progress to the
Administrator, in a manner the Administrator determines
appropriate, not later than two years after receipt of
such financial assistance; and
(2) for a project or program described in paragraph (1) of
subsection (b)--
(A) a State, local government, or tribal government
shall--
(i) have or will have--
(I) legal, financial, and technical
capacity to carry out the project or
program, including the safety and
security aspects of the project or
program;
(II) satisfactory continuing
control over the use of the equipment
or facilities used during the project
or program, with a defined plan for its
use after program assistance has ended;
(III) the technical and financial
capacity to maintain new and existing
equipment and facilities used for the
project or program; and
(IV) advisors providing guidance on
the terms and structure of the project
or program that are independent from
investors in the project or program;
(ii) demonstrate that the project or
program shall encourage, to the maximum extent
feasible, as determined by local policies,
criteria, and decision making, the
participation of private enterprise; and
(iii) demonstrate that the project or
program is supported by an acceptable degree of
local financial commitment (including evidence
of stable and dependable financing sources);
and
(B) a local government or tribal government shall--
(i) provide for the collection of at least
5 types of recyclable materials; and
(ii) own, operate, or contract to handle,
operate, or sell to--
(I) a curbside recyclables
collection program;
(II) a redemption center, drop-off
facility, or transfer station for
recyclables; or
(III) a material recovery facility.
(d) Selection Criteria.--
(1) Priority.--In awarding financial assistance to States,
local governments, and tribal governments under the Recycling
Infrastructure Program, the Administrator shall give priority
to States, local governments, and tribal governments that
propose to use the assistance to--
(A) expand recycling access and collection of
recyclable materials to underserved areas;
(B) modernize existing technology;
(C) use innovative technology;
(D) enhance curbside recycling and other
collection; or
(E) reduce contamination of recyclable materials.
(2) Applicability.--Nothing in this subsection supersedes
the applicability of other requirements of Federal law
(including regulations).
(e) Federal Assistance.--
(1) Amount.--The amount of the Federal financial assistance
used for a project or program described in subsection (b) shall
not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project or
program.
(2) Supplant.--Federal financial assistance under this Act
shall not be used to supplant or repay other financial
assistance.
(f) State, Tribal, and Local Permits.--The provision of financial
assistance with respect to a project or program described in subsection
(b) shall not--
(1) alter any obligation to obtain any required State,
local, or tribal permit or approval with respect to the project
or program; or
(2) otherwise supersede any State, local, or tribal law
(including any regulation) applicable to the construction or
operation of the project or program.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
(a) State, Local Government, and Tribal Government Reports.--Each
State, local government, or tribal government receiving financial
assistance during a fiscal year under the Recycling Infrastructure
Program shall submit to the Administrator, not later than 12 months
after receiving such assistance, a report for such fiscal year, in
accordance with such requirements as the Administrator may prescribe.
(b) EPA Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on
measures taken towards implementing this Act that includes a list of
States, local governments, and tribal governments receiving financial
assistance under the Recycling Infrastructure Program.
SEC. 5. FUNDING.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act--
(1) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to remain available
until expended;
(2) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain available
until expended;
(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, to remain available
until expended;
(4) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, to remain available
until expended; and
(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available
until expended.
(b) Administration.--The Administrator may use for the
administration of this Act such funds as the Administrator determines
necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
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