The House Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing titled “Beyond the Blue Bin: Forging a Federal Landscape for Recycling Innovation and Economic Growth” at the Rayburn House Office Building. Witnesses included industry leaders from the American Chemistry Council, Mint Innovation, the Flexible Packaging Association, and The Recycling Partnership. The session examined key challenges and opportunities in recycling policy, emphasizing the need for a unified federal framework.

Topics discussed included the development of a UN-led International Plastics Treaty, the rapid rise of e-waste, concerns over microplastics, and advancements in mechanical and chemical recycling technologies. Legal and regulatory contexts were reviewed, notably the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and recent EPA initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated over $375 million for recycling infrastructure, education, and battery labeling programs. Stakeholders emphasized the need to harmonize federal, state, and local efforts to drive innovation and improve recycling outcomes across the U.S.

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Committee on Energy and Commerce; Recycling; E-Waste; Microplastics