Modernize Recycling Rules and Support American Innovation
From the Office of Congressman Langworthy,
Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced the introduction of the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at updating federal recycling standards to reflect modern technology, protect consumers, and support American manufacturers investing in more sustainable production.
As new technologies have made it possible to recycle materials that were once considered unrecoverable, federal rules governing recycled content claims have fallen behind. That has created confusion for consumers, uncertainty for businesses, and inconsistent standards across the marketplace. Congressman Langworthy’s legislation would establish clear, national guidelines for recycled labels.
“Advanced technology in recycling is transforming how we recover and reuse materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, but our regulations have remained stagnant,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “This much-needed legislation changes that by modernizing and updating the rules with a uniform national standard that protects consumers from misleading claims while giving American manufacturers the certainty they need to invest, innovate, and compete. This legislation is a no-brainer for businesses, consumers, and our environment.”
Advanced recycling uses innovative processes to turn hard-to-recycle materials, such as certain plastics and packaging, into building blocks for new products. But outdated federal guidance has made it difficult to consistently verify recycled content claims, raising compliance costs and creating uncertainty that can slow new investment.
The Recycled Materials Attribution Act formally recognizes advanced and chemical recycling technologies and allows certified mass-balance accounting to verify recycled content. The legislation also directs the Federal Trade Commission to update its “Green Guides,” which have not been revised since 2012, so federal guidance keeps pace with current technology and is applied consistently nationwide.
By modernizing these rules, the bill is expected to help keep more material out of landfills, support the growth of domestic recycling infrastructure, and strengthen supply chains by encouraging more sustainable manufacturing here in the United States. Just as importantly, it ensures that when companies make environmental claims, those claims are accurate, science-based, and independently verifiable.
The legislation has drawn bipartisan support, with original cosponsors including Reps. Jonathan Jackson (IL), Vincente Gonzalez (TX), Randy Weber (TX), Gabe Evans (CO), Don Davis (NC), Dan Crenshaw (TX), Marc Veasey (TX), August Pfluger (TX), and Henry Cuellar (TX).
“We commend Congressman Langworthy and all of the cosponsors for championing legislation that will establish clear national recycling standards and definitions. This is important for the makers of America’s favorite household brands and consumers to reduce confusion and improve recycling rates,” said Melissa Hockstad, CEO of Consumer Brands Association. “This is a building block toward modernizing America’s recycling system, reducing plastic waste and spurring innovation and domestic manufacturing jobs.”
Recycling Leadership Council spokesperson and Senior Vice President John Hewitt said, “The Recycling Leadership Council welcomes the introduction of the Recycled Materials Attribution Act. This bipartisan legislation is a critical step toward addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste in the United States and we are grateful to Congressman Langworthy and the bill’s eight original co-sponsors for their leadership. The RMAA will help unlock solutions needed to recover and reuse more materials, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and keep plastic out of landfills and the environment.”
Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers, said “This legislation would clarify federal policy to help scale recycling solutions so more used plastics are turned into new products instead of being discarded. We thank Congressman Langworthy for his leadership and the bipartisan group of cosponsors that joined him in supporting this important bill.”
