HR2145-119

What This Bill Does

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program within 18 months. EPA would award grants to states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and public-private partnerships to improve recycling accessibility in underserved communities through hub-and-spoke infrastructure. Eligible projects can increase transfer stations, expand curbside recycling where appropriate, and use public-private partnerships to reduce collection and transportation costs. Grants must be at least $500,000 and no more than $15 million, with at least 70 percent of funding reserved for projects serving one or more underserved communities. The federal share is capped at 90 percent unless EPA waives the match for significant financial hardship. Projects cannot use funds for recycling education programs. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 and allows EPA to use up to 5 percent for administration and technical assistance.

Who Benefits and How

Underserved communities benefit by becoming eligible for recycling infrastructure grants where distance, transportation cost, or lack of nearby materials recovery capacity blocks full recycling access. States, local governments, and Indian Tribes receive authority to apply for grants that can fund transfer stations and curbside recycling expansion. Public-private partnerships benefit from a grant pathway for hub-and-spoke recycling projects that reduce collection and transport costs. Recycling facility operators and transfer-station developers gain potential demand for infrastructure projects. Residents in communities with no materials recovery facility within 75 miles benefit from priority treatment.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The EPA Administrator must create the program, run grant competitions, evaluate underserved-community criteria, enforce the 70 percent set-aside, review hardship waivers, and report to Congress. Grant recipients must comply with eligible-use limits, matching requirements, and project reporting. Communities seeking education-only recycling programs cannot use this grant funding for those activities. Public-private partnerships must demonstrate financial health and operational capacity. Congressional committees must review EPA's report on recipients, project actions, and recycling-rate changes.

Key Provisions

• Establishes an EPA Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program within 18 months.
• Authorizes grants to states, local governments, Indian Tribes, and public-private partnerships.
• Provides eligible uses for transfer stations, curbside recycling expansion, and lower collection or transport costs.
• Requires each grant to be between $500,000 and $15 million.
• Reserves at least 70 percent of program funds for underserved-community projects.
• Caps the federal share at 90 percent unless EPA grants a financial-hardship waiver.
• Prohibits use of grant funds for recycling education programs.
• Authorizes $30 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 and requires a congressional report.