Two Capito recycling bills pass Senate, head to House

The U.S. Senate on March 12 approved two bipartisan bills introduced by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) focused on improving America’s recycling and composting systems.

“By passing these bills, the Senate took a positive step forward in making it easier for more people to recycle, especially in rural states like West Virginia, which is good for the environment and our economy,” said Sen. Capito, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.

The Senate gave unanimous consent to both the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023, S. 1189, and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, S. 1194, which Sen. Capito sponsored and cosponsored, respectively, on April 19, 2023.

If enacted, S. 1189, which Sen. Capito proposed alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), who chairs the EPW Committee, would create a pilot program to increase access to recycling services in underserved areas.

Meanwhile, an enacted S. 1194, which Sen. Carper sponsored with lead original cosponsor Sen. Capito, would improve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to gather data on the nation’s recycling systems and explore opportunities for implementing a national composting strategy, according to bill summaries provided by the lawmakers.

“This bipartisan legislation would implement common-sense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country, and create good-paying jobs in our communities,” Sen. Capito said.

Both measures have advanced to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is considering related measures.

“These two bipartisan bills will help address several of the challenges plaguing our nation’s recycling and composting systems — including reliable data collection and improving access to recycling programs,” said Sen. Carper. “I am pleased to see these two bills pass the Senate.”