Se Denver News

Washington D.C.— Congressmen Joe Neguse (D-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA). This legislation will identify national composting infrastructure challenges and improve recycling data measurement and reporting. These key refinements to America’s recycling and composting systems will enable the country to move closer towards waste-free living. The bill is led in the U.S. Senate by Senators Carper (D-DE) and Capito (R-WV). 

“To build a sustainable future, we must create systems that encourage recycling and waste reduction, and ensure our communities have the resources to reach those goals,” said Congressman Neguse. “This bill will improve data and reporting on recycling and composting, empowering communities to improve their composting and recycling systems, which supports the environment and betters the planet for everyone.”  

In 2022, according to Eco-Cycle, Colorado’s statewide recycling and composting rate was 16%, half the national average. This legislation will provide Colorado with the tools needed to improve recycling and composting rates.

The RCAA requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect and publish data on recycling and composting rates across the country to provide an accurate reflection of performance both nationwide and at the state level.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Identify National Composting Infrastructure Challenges; requiring the EPA to work with state, local, and Tribal governments to assess the capability of the United States to implement a national residential composting strategy. 
• Improve Recycling Data Measurement and Reporting; creating a comprehensive baseline of data on the U.S. recycling system. 
• Assess End Markets and Diversion; directing the EPA to prepare a report on the end market sale of all recyclable materials and compostable materials collected from households and publicly available drop-off centers.
• Evaluate Federal Recycling Practices; asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the recycling practices across the federal government and issue a report that documents the annual recycling rates of federal agencies.
• Establish Recycling and Composting Best Practices; using improved data collection and reporting, the RCAA would establish voluntary guidelines for state, local, and Tribal governments to enhance recycling and composting efforts

Read bill text HERE. 

“We have got to make sure there is more data on what we can do with recycling and composting programs in the United States,” said Congressman Burchett. “This bill would provide information that can be used by private businesses, as well as state and local governments to spur innovation and improve recycling programs without imposing one-size-fits-all rules at the federal level.”

 "Recycling is instrumental in improving the environment, making our economy more efficient, and fueling innovation," said Congressman Foster. "Despite this, our nation's recycling and composting rates consistently fall short. This legislation would help increase and refine data collection for our recycling and composting practices, ensuring we can preserve these systems and their ability to act as a sustainable economic driver in our society."

Ten additional quotes of support from local elected officials and more can be found HERE and below: 

“A dedicated coalition of government and nonprofit partners has implemented a wide variety of recycling and compositing programs in Summit County. But our local efforts can go only so far in the face of a complex global system that doesn’t prioritize efficient use of energy and resources. Despite overwhelming support for waste diversion by Summit County residents and visitors, our recycling rates have remained stubbornly flat because of market forces that are outside our control. Federal policy support for recycling and composting is critical if we are to achieve our goals,” said Jennifer Schenk, Executive Director, High Country Conservation Center. 

“Summit County has invested millions of dollars in our facilities to make it easier for our community to play an important role in helping us expand the life of our landfill and reduce greenhouse gases through recycling and composting programs,” said Summit County Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence. “We’re honored to support the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act to bring increased support for our efforts and those around the country.” 

“The Town of Breckenridge supports Congressman Neguse’s Recycling and Composting Accountability Act. The current waste and recycling system is inequitable and wholly inefficient. Good recyclers and small generators subsidize large generators and polluters while others simply have no access at all. Local communities are left footing the bill or give up altogether. The Town of Breckenridge supports strong material management policies and standardization so that no matter where you live or visit, you have access and opportunity to recycle right and know that your materials will be adequately diverted from end of life,” said Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula. 

"Thank you for your dedication to our environment and for championing the cause of recycling and composting. Rep. Neguse’s leadership and vision inspire us to work even harder towards a greener future,” said Justin Sibley, CEO, POWDR.

 “Rep. Neguse’s proposed bill aligns perfectly with our core values of environmental stewardship and community support, and we believe it will significantly contribute to a future where a greener and more sustainable economy further propels the standard of living in Colorado,” said Dustin Lyman, President and General Manager, Copper Mountain Resort. 

"We understand the importance of collaborating with our community and have long sought to stimulate a circular market in the way your bill proposes. Rep. Neguse’s recycling and composting bill provides a comprehensive framework for achieving our goal of a healthy environment and confronting the challenges to doing so through science-based research and planning. This is critical to ensuring that future generations may work and play as we do,” said Brent Tregaskis, President and General Manager, Eldora Mountain Resort. 

"Recycle Colorado recognizes the urgent need to pass the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act as part of the United States effort to become a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient nation. The enormous gaps in data about recycling and composting perpetuate the lack of access to these crucial systems. Utilizing the talents and infrastructure of the Federal government is the most efficient way to establish best practices and foster not only new businesses within the U.S. but will also accelerate our ability to have a circular economy", said Liz Chapman, Executive Director of Recycle Colorado. 

“The Town of Avon strongly supports the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act. Currently, a lack of national data collection makes collaboration and reporting difficult. Recycling is a strategy with co-benefits that address negative impacts from climate change, pollution, litter and harmful extractive industries. We are implementing several waste diversion programs in Avon, however these local efforts can only go so far in a broken system. We thank Congressman Neguse for this bipartisan effort to elevate recycling at the federal level,” said Mayor Amy Phillips, Avon, Colorado. 

"The Town of Frisco absolutely supports any federal efforts to strengthen recycling and composting infrastructure. This proposed legislation takes on the many critical recycling issues that need federal leadership. The issue of understanding and promoting end markets for recycled materials is key to making the system more supportable and to making sure that we are not just burying trash. We need to reduce our waste system’s effects on climate change and find more ways to reuse, compost and recycle,” said Mayor Hunter Mortensen, Frisco, Colorado. 

"Americans deserve the same level of access to compost as they do trash, which is why the RCAA is so necessary, and why it's exciting to see the House reintroduce it with bipartisan support. BPI supports the Act because it provides the incentives and tools to gather information we need to understand existing gaps in compost access, collection and processing infrastructure. Without it, we won't be able to reduce the millions of tons of landfill GHG emissions generated from our food and other organic waste in landfills and divert them to be repurposed as a valuable soil amendment,” said Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director, Biodegradable Products Institute.

Original source can be found here