Dear Reader,
As we kick off 2026, lawmakers wasted no time in preparing for the coming year. While the US was celebrating the holidays, federal and state officials were busy introducing resolutions and measures that could significantly impact the industry this year. Here’s your quick catch-up on what happened while you were away!
Have a legislative issue you’d like us to monitor? Drop me a line at [email protected]. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Stefanie, Editor, Policy Now at Resource Recycling
House resolution targets product design
California Representative Lou Correa introduced a resolution in December calling on manufacturers to redesign packaging with recyclability in mind, saying advances in collection and processing technology aren’t enough to meet waste-reduction goals.
The initiatives outlined in the Design for Recycling resolution highlight the importance of selecting recyclable materials and refining product design for end-of-life recovery, enabling manufacturers to meet consumer demand for sustainable products.
Republicans propose bill on chemical recycling
Two Republican congressmen have introduced a federal bill to classify chemical recycling as a manufacturing process rather than as waste incineration, a move they say will help to provide regulatory clarity and encourage infrastructure investment.
Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Gary Palmer of Alabama introduced the Recycling Technology Innovation Act, framing it as an effort to “unlock innovation in America’s plastics recycling sector and strengthen domestic manufacturing.”
State policy driving Southeast investments
Liberty Tire Recycling is investing in $1.4 million of equipment upgrades at a facility in North Carolina and credits the state’s new law directing disposal fees back into its scrap tire program.
In summer 2025, North Carolina passed SB 706, under which most of the new funding will go back to counties to reimburse costs associated with collecting and recycling end-of-life tires. As such, Liberty says the state “has emerged as a critical hub for the tire recycling industry.”
PACK Act aims to revise labeling
A GOP congressman from Texas has introduced a bill to establish a federal labeling standard for environmental claims on consumer packaging, in an effort to preempt a “patchwork” of state laws, particularly in California.
The Packaging and Claims Knowledge Act aims to “put an end to misleading ‘green’ labels that confuse consumers and undermine real recycling efforts,” according to a press release from Republican Randy Weber, who represents Texas’ 14th congressional district near Houston.
Illinois launches paint recycling program
A stewardship program launched in Illinois will divert an estimated 1 million gallons of paint from the waste stream in its first year, organizers say.
The program is managed by PaintCare, a producer responsibility organization founded by the American Coatings Association. The initiative is the result of the state’s 2023 Paint Stewardship Act, which requires manufacturers to develop the program.
New study examines bottle deposit systems
Ten states and the US territory of Guam currently operate Deposit Return System (DRS) programs, with the most recent implemented in Hawai’i in 2005. A 2022 survey indicated that support for DRS among residents of those states was 90%. However, in 2023 data from the Container Recycling Institute showed falling redemption rates in most DRS states, largely due to a need for updates.
