S. 351: Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025

This legislation, known as the Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025, aims to enhance recycling and composting efforts across the United States through a variety of measures. Below is a breakdown of the key components of the bill.

Pilot Grant Program for Recycling Infrastructure

The bill establishes a pilot grant program, called the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program, to improve recycling accessibility in under-served communities. Key points include:

• Administering Body: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will manage this program.
• Targeted Communities: Grants will prioritize areas without sufficient recycling services, particularly those lacking curbside recycling options.
• Funding: Grants will range from $500,000 to $15 million, with at least 70% of funds allocated specifically for projects in underserved communities.
• Eligible Applicants: States, local governments, Indian tribes, and public-private partnerships can apply for funding.
• Types of Projects: Funds may be used to increase transfer stations, expand curbside recycling, and develop partnerships to reduce costs associated with recycling.

Data Collection on Recycling and Composting

Another focus of the bill is to improve the collection and dissemination of data related to recycling and composting. This includes:

• Reports on Infrastructure: The EPA will prepare reports assessing the capabilities and challenges of recycling and composting facilities across the country.
• Inventory of Facilities: The Administrator will create an inventory of materials recovery facilities, detailing their capabilities and the materials they process.
• Data Analysis: The bill mandates the collection of data to evaluate recycling rates, identify barriers to access, and assess the efficacy of recycling programs.

Funding Provisions

The bill authorizes funding for these initiatives as follows:

• Annual Appropriations: $30 million is allocated for the pilot grant program for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029.
• Additional Resources: Up to $4 million per year for the data collection and reporting efforts.

Regulatory Framework

To facilitate improvements in recycling efforts, the bill emphasizes the following:

• Barriers and Compliance: The EPA will evaluate federal, state, and local laws that may hinder composting and recycling initiatives.
• Encouraging Best Practices: The bill promotes actions for federal agencies to increase their recycling and composting activities.

Reporting Requirements

The legislation mandates the EPA to provide reports to Congress, including:

• A list of entities receiving grants and how they utilized the funds.
• Assessments of the impact of projects on recycling rates in the respective communities.

Relevant Companies

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