,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bida ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ba1 #bjai,mr4 ,portman 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,stabenow1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,young7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to establish a consumer recycling education and outreach grant program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,recycling ,enhancements to ,collection and ,yield through ,consumer ,learning and ,education ,act of #bjai or the ,,recycle ,act4 #b4 ,definition of ,administrator ,in this ,act1 the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 #c4 ,consumer recycling education and outreach grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish a program 7referred to in this section as the grant program7 to award competitive grants to eligible entities to improve the effectiveness of residential and community recycling programs through public education and outreach4 7b7 ,criteria ,the ,administrator shall award grants under the grant program for projects that1 by using one or more eligible activities described in subsection 7e7-- 7#a7 inform the public about residential or community recycling programs2 7#b7 provide information about the recycled materials that are accepted as part of a residential or community recycling program that provides for the separate collection of residential solid waste from recycled material2 and 7#c7 increase collection rates and decrease contamination in residential and community recycling programs4 7c7 ,eligible entities 7#a7 ,in general ,an entity that is eligible to receive a grant under the grant program is-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 a unit of local government2 7,c7 a ,tribal government2 7,d7 a nonprofit organization2 or 7,e7 a public-private partnership4 7#b7 ,coordination of activities ,two or more entities described in paragraph 7#a7 may receive a grant under the grant program to coordinate the provision of information to residents that may access two or more residential recycling programs1 including programs that accept different recycled materials1 to provide to the residents information regarding differences among those residential recycling programs4 7d7 ,requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,to receive a grant under the grant program1 an eligible entity shall demonstrate to the ,administrator that the grant funds will be used to encourage the collection of recycled materials that are sold to an existing or developing market4 7#b7 ,business plans and financial data 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity may make a demonstration under paragraph 7#a7 through the submission to the ,administrator of appropriate business plans and financial data4 7,b7 ,confidentiality ,the ,administrator shall treat any business plans or financial data received under subparagraph 7,a7 as confidential information4 7e7 ,eligible activities ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the grant program may use the grant funds for activities including-- 7#a7 public service announcements2 7#b7 a door-to-door education and outreach campaign2 7#c7 social media and digital outreach2 7#d7 an advertising campaign on recycling awareness2 7#e7 the development and dissemination of-- 7,a7 a toolkit for a municipal and commercial recycling program2 7,b7 information on the importance of quality in the recycling stream2 7,c7 information on the economic and environmental benefits of recycling2 and 7,d7 information on what happens to materials after the materials are placed into a residential or community recycling program2 7#f7 businesses recycling outreach2 7#g7 bin1 cart1 and other receptacle labeling and signs2 and 7#h7 such other activities that the ,administrator determines are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section4 7f7 ,prohibition on use of funds ,no funds may be awarded under the grant program for a residential recycling program that-- 7#a7 does not provide for the separate collection of residential solid waste 7as defined in section #bdf4aja of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act77 from recycled material 7as defined in that section71 unless the funds are used to promote a transition to a system that separately collects recycled materials2 or 7#b7 promotes the establishment of1 or conversion to1 a residential collection system that does not provide for the separate collection of residential solid waste from recycled material 7as those terms are defined under paragraph 7#a774 7g7 ,model recycling program toolkit 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the grant program1 the ,administrator1 in consultation with other relevant ,federal agencies1 ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 units of local government1 nonprofit organizations1 and the private sector1 shall develop a model recycling program toolkit for ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 and units of local government that includes1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 a standardized set of terms and examples that may be used to describe materials that are accepted by a residential recycling program2 7,b7 information that the ,administrator determines can be widely applied across residential recycling programs1 taking into consideration the differences in recycled materials accepted by residential recycling programs2 7,c7 educational principles on best practices for the collection and processing of recycled materials2 7,d7 a community self-assessment guide to identify gaps in existing recycling programs2 7,e7 training modules that enable ,states and nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance to units of local government2 7,f7 access to consumer educational materials that ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 and units of local government can adapt and use in recycling programs2 and 7,g7 a guide to measure the effectiveness of a grant received under the grant program1 including standardized measurements for recycling rates and decreases in contamination4 7#b7 ,requirement ,in developing the standardized set of terms and examples under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 the ,administrator may not establish any requirements for-- 7,a7 what materials shall be accepted by a residential recycling program2 or 7,b7 the labeling of products4 7h7 ,school curriculum ,the ,administrator shall provide assistance to the educational community1 including nonprofit organizations1 such as an organization the science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics program of which incorporates recycling1 to promote the introduction of recycling principles and best practices into public school curricula4 7i7 ,reports 7#a7 ,to the ,administrator ,not earlier than #ahj days1 and not later than #b years1 after the date on which a grant under the grant program is awarded to an eligible entity1 the eligible entity shall submit to the ,administrator a report describing1 by using the guide developed under subsection 7g77#a77;,g7-- 7,a7 the change in volume of recycled material collected through the activities funded with the grant2 7,b7 the change in participation rate of the recycling program funded with the grant2 7,c7 the reduction of contamination in the recycling stream as a result of the activities funded with the grant2 and 7,d7 such other information as the ,administrator determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,to ,congress ,the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress an annual report describing-- 7,a7 the effectiveness of residential recycling programs awarded funds under the grant program1 including statistics comparing the quantity and quality of recycled materials collected by those programs1 as described in the reports submitted to the ,administrator under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 recommendations on additional actions to improve residential recycling4 #d4 ,federal procurement ,section #fjjb of the ,solid ,waste ,disposal ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fifb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7e71 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking and from time to time1 revise and inserting review not less frequently than once every #e years1 and1 if appropriate1 revise1 in consultation with recyclers and manufacturers of products containing recycled content1 not later than #b years after the completion of the initial review after the date of enactment of the ,recycling ,enhancements to ,collection and ,yield through ,consumer ,learning and ,education ,act of #bjai and thereafter1 as appropriate2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7j7 ,consultation and provision of information by ,administrator ,the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 consult with each procuring agency1 including contractors of the procuring agency1 to clarify the responsibilities of the procuring agency under this section2 and 7#b7 provide to each procuring agency information on the requirements under this section and the responsibilities of the procuring agency under this section4 7k7 ,reports ,the ,administrator1 in consultation with the ,administrator of ,general ,services1 shall submit to ,congress an annual report describing-- 7#a7 the quantity of federally procured recycled products listed in the guidelines under subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 with respect to the products described in paragraph 7#a71 the percentage of recycled material in each product4 4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator to carry out this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 7b7 ,requirement ,of the amount made available under subsection 7a7 for a fiscal year1 not less than #aj percent shall be allocated to low-income communities 7as defined in section #de;,d7e7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf74