The Consumer Brands Association has lauded the U.S. Senate's approval of the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act. The association maintains that these pieces of legislation will enhance recycling and composting data collection, as well as broaden rural access to recycling infrastructure.

According to a press release by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on March 14, 2024, the Senate passed these bipartisan bills. The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 is designed to initiate a pilot program aimed at increasing access to recycling services in underserved areas, such as rural communities. Concurrently, the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act aims to bolster the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s capacity for collecting data on nationwide recycling systems while paving the way for a national composting strategy. Both bills were proposed by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.).

"Strengthening rural communities and creating a more circular economy have long been top priorities for the makers of America’s top household products, and these two bills are an important step towards both of those goals," said John Hewitt, Consumer Brands Vice President of Packaging Sustainability.

In its press release, the association identified the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act as a significant move towards addressing the dearth of reliable and accessible recycling and composting data. It stated that this legislation would bridge information gaps while providing essential data needed to stimulate innovation and encourage investment in recycling infrastructure. The association also indicated that the pilot program stipulated in the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would enhance recycling infrastructure, thereby ensuring that rural and other underserved communities can benefit from recycling's economic and environmental advantages.

"This bipartisan legislation would implement commonsense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country, creating good-paying jobs in our communities," Hewitt said. "I appreciate Chairman Carper and Senator Boozman for once again working together to increase recycling and composting opportunities in the future."