,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #baja ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #ai1 #bjba,ms4 ,omar introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to award grants for projects that are consistent with zero-waste practices1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,zeroing ,excess1 ,reducing ,organic ,waste1 ,and ,sustaining ,technical ,expertise ,act or the ,,zero ,,waste ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,except as otherwise provided1 in this ,act3 7#a7 ,adaptive management practice ,the term adaptive management practice means1 with respect to use of a grant under this ,act1 the integration of project design1 management1 and monitoring to identify the impacts and outcomes of such use of a grant as they arise for purposes of adjusting behaviors to improve outcomes4 7#b7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#c7 ,domestically owned and operated ,the term domestically owned and operated means1 with respect to a business-- 7,a7 the headquarters of such a business is located within the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 the primary operations of such a business are carried out in the ,united ,states4 7#d7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a single unit of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government2 7,b7 a partnership of multiple units of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government2 7,c7 one or more units of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government in coordination with for-profit or nonprofit organizations2 or 7,d7 one or more nonprofit organizations4 7#e7 ,embodied energy ,the term embodied energy means energy that was used to create a product or material4 7#f7 ,environmental justice community ,the term environmental justice community has the meaning given that term in section #fja4 7#g7 ,living wage ,the term living wage means the minimum income necessary to allow a person working #dj hours per week to afford the cost of housing1 food1 and other material necessities4 7#h7 ,organics recycling ,the term organics recycling means the biological process by which organic material-- 7,a7 is biologically converted to compost that is not harmful to humans1 plants1 or animals2 and 7,b7 is treated in a specialized facility designed to recycle organic material4 7#i7 ,recycle2 recycling ,the terms recycle and recycling have the meanings given those terms in section #abjja of the ,solid ,waste ,disposal ,act 7as added by this title74 7#aj7 ,reuse ,the term reuse-- 7,a7 means-- 7i7 using a product1 packaging1 or material more than once for the same or a new function without requiring additional processing2 7ii7 repairing a product1 packaging1 or material in such a way that extends its useful lifetime2 7iii7 sharing or renting a product1 packaging1 or material in such a way that extends its useful lifetime2 or 7iv7 selling or donating a product1 packaging1 or material in such a way that extends its useful lifetime2 and 7,b7 does not include incineration4 7#aa7 ,single-use product ,the term single-use product-- 7,a7 means a consumer product that is designed to be disposed of1 recycled1 or otherwise discarded after a single use2 and 7,b7 does not include-- 7i7 medical equipment1 devices1 or other products determined by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to necessarily be made of plastic for the protection of public health2 7ii7 a personal hygiene product that1 due to the intended use of the product1 could become unsafe or unsanitary to recycle1 such as a diaper2 and 7iii7 packaging that is-- 7,i7 for any product described in subparagraph 7,a72 or 7,,ii7 used for the shipment of hazardous materials that is prohibited from being composed of used materials under section #agh4eji or #agh4ebb of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act74 7#ab7 ,source reduction 7,a7 ,in general ,the term source reduction means an activity or process that reduces the generation of waste at its source1 before it can enter into commerce or the environment4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term source reduction includes-- 7i7 the redesign of products or materials such that they can be reused1 rather than disposed of2 7ii7 the design and manufacture of products or materials with minimal packaging intended for disposal2 7iii7 an activity or process that reduces the amount of waste generated during a manufacturing process2 7iv7 an activity or process that reduces or eliminates the use of materials that are not able to be recycled without degrading the quality of the material2 and 7v7 any other activity or process that reduces the weight1 volume1 or toxicity of products or materials4 7,c7 ,exclusion ,the term source reduction does not include an activity or process used after a product or material has become waste1 such as incineration4 7#ac7 ,source separation ,the term source separation-- 7,a7 means the separation of solid waste by material or commodity type prior to collection1 such as separation into recyclable and non-recyclable materials or by recyclable commodity2 and 7,b7 does not require the use of technologies that sort mixed municipal solid waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials4 7#ad7 ,waste prevention ,the term waste prevention means any method to reduce the amount of materials disposed of in landfills or incinerated1 including reuse and recycling4 7#ae7 ,zero-emissions vehicle ,the term zero-emissions vehicle means a vehicle that produces zero emissions of-- 7,a7 greenhouse gases2 7,b7 criteria pollutants2 and 7,c7 hazardous air pollutants4 7#af7 ,zero-waste ,the term zero-waste means the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production1 consumption1 reuse1 and recovery of products1 packaging1 and materials without-- 7,a7 burning or otherwise destroying embodied energy2 and 7,b7 a discharge to land1 water1 or air that results in adverse human health or environmental effects4 7#ag7 ,zero-waste practice ,the term zero-waste practice means a practice used to help achieve zero-waste1 including the use of source reduction4 #c4 ,grants for zero-waste projects 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish and carry out a program to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to carry out projects described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,grant use 7#a7 ,organics recycling infrastructure 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out a project to construct1 expand1 or modernize infrastructure required for organics recycling1 including any facility1 machinery1 or equipment required for the collection and processing of organic material on a city-wide or county-wide scale4 7,b7 ,requirements ,each project carried out under this paragraph shall result in increased capacity-- 7i7 to collect and process residential and commercial organic material1 including through source separation of organic material2 and 7ii7 to generate environmentally beneficial byproducts1 such as compost with added nutritional content4 7,c7 ,mixed-waste composting ,a grant received under this paragraph may not be used to support the collection or processing of mixed-waste composting4 7#b7 ,electronic waste recycling 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out a project that enables the recycling or reuse of electronic devices at the end of their useful lifetime1 including-- 7i7 constructing1 expanding1 or modernizing infrastructure and technology2 7ii7 research and development2 and 7iii7 product refurbishment4 7,b7 ,requirements ,a project carried out under this paragraph-- 7i7 may not include an electronic waste buy-back program-- 7,i7 that provides compensation for used electronics2 and 7,,ii7 under which such compensation may be applied as a credit toward the purchase of new electronics2 and 7ii7 shall be carried out by an eligible entity that is certified to recycle electronics by an organization that is accredited by-- 7,i7 the ,national ,accreditation ,board of the ,american ,national ,standards ,institute2 7,,ii7 the ,american ,society of ,quality2 or 7,,iii7 another accrediting body determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#c7 ,source reduction 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out a project relating to source reduction1 which such project may include1 in accordance with subparagraph 7,b71 carrying out product or manufacturing redesign or redevelopment to reduce byproducts1 packaging1 and other outputs4 7,b7 ,redesign and redevelopment ,an eligible entity may only carry out a project described in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 if-- 7i7 the applicable manufacturer-- 7,i7 is domestically owned and operated2 and 7,,ii7 pays a living wage2 and 7ii7 the redesign or redevelopment does not result in-- 7,i7 higher toxicity of the product or byproducts2 7,,ii7 more complicated recyclability of the product or byproducts2 or 7,,iii7 increased volume of byproducts compared with the original practice4 7#d7 ,market development 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out a project that-- 7i7 creates market demand for source reduction1 sorted recyclable commodities1 goods made of sorted recyclable commodities1 or refurbished goods2 and 7ii7 as applicable1 encourages or enables investment in domestically owned and operated manufacturing capacity with respect to the list in clause 7i74 7,b7 ,requirements ,each project carried out under this section-- 7i7 shall target easily or commonly recycled materials which are disproportionately disposed of in landfills or incinerated2 7ii7 shall reduce the volume1 weight1 or toxicity of waste and waste byproducts2 and 7iii7 may not conflict with-- 7,i7 minimum-content laws1 such as post-consumer recycled content requirements2 7,,ii7 beverage container deposits2 7,,iii7 programs funded through retail fees for specific products or classes of products that use such fees to collect1 treat1 or recycle such products2 or 7,,iv7 any applicable recycled product procurement laws and expanded sustainable government purchasing requirements1 as identified by the ,administrator4 7#e7 ,zero-emissions collection vehicles ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out a project to purchase1 operate1 and maintain zero-emissions vehicles used to collect material for recycling or organics recycling4 #d4 ,grants for landfill diversion 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish and carry out a program to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to develop and implement new requirements1 as described in subsection 7b71 that reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills4 7b7 ,grant use 7#a7 ,tipping fees ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to develop and implement zero-waste practices that are accompanied by permanent increases in tipping1 gate1 or disposal fees imposed on the disposal of waste at landfills4 7#b7 ,curbside composting collection ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to support the implementation of ,state programs that mandate the availability of curbside collection of material for organics recycling for all single-family and multifamily residential households4 7#c7 ,landfill diversion ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant to support the implementation of statewide requirements that prohibit organic waste from being sent to landfills4 7c7 ,definition of eligible entity ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means a single unit of ,state government or a relevant ,state agency4 #e4 ,grant applications 7a7 ,application 7#a7 ,criteria for all applicants ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time and in such form as the ,administrator requires1 which shall include demonstrating that the eligible entity-- 7,a7 has set specific source reduction or waste prevention targets2 and 7,b7 will carry out a project that meets the applicable project requirements under section #c7;b7 or #d7;b74 7#b7 ,additional application criteria for nonprofit organization ,in the case of an application from an eligible entity that is a nonprofit organization1 the application shall include-- 7,a7 a letter of support for the proposed project from-- 7i7 a local unit of government2 or 7ii7 another nonprofit organization that-- 7,i7 has a demonstrated history of undertaking work in the geographic region where the proposed project is to take place2 and 7,,ii7 is not involved in the project being proposed2 and 7,b7 any other information the ,administrator may require4 7b7 ,priority factors ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,administrator shall give priority to any eligible entity that-- 7#a7 with respect to an eligible entity that is a ,state or unit of local government1 has statutorily committed to implementing one or more zero-waste practices2 7#b7 demonstrates how use of such grant could lead to the creation of new jobs that pay a living wage and are1 to the greatest extent practicable1 offered to individuals who experience barriers to employment1 as determined by the ,administrator2 7#c7 will use such grant to carry out source reduction or waste prevention in schools2 7#d7 will use such grant to employ an adaptive management practice to identify1 prevent1 or address any negative environmental consequences of a project proposed to be carried out with a grant under this ,act2 7#e7 has a demonstrated need for additional investment in infrastructure or other resources to achieve source reduction and waste prevention targets set by the local unit of government that is responsible for waste management and recycling in the geographic area2 7#f7 will use such grant to develop an innovative or new technology or strategy for source reduction and waste prevention2 7#g7 demonstrates how receiving the grant will encourage further investment in source reduction and waste prevention activities2 or 7#h7 will incorporate multi-stakeholder involvement1 including nonprofit1 commercial1 and public sector partners1 in carrying out a project using such grant4 7c7 ,requirement ,of the amount made available pursuant to section #h7;a71 not less than #ge percent shall be allocated to projects that serve1 or are located in1 environmental justice communities4 #f4 ,reporting ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this ,act shall submit to the ,administrator a report1 at such time and in such form as the ,administrator may require1 on the results of the project carried out with such grant1 and such report shall include any relevant data requested by the ,administrator for purposes of tracking the effectiveness of the programs established under section #c7;a7 and #d7;b74 #g4 ,annual conference ,in each of calendar years #bjbb through #bjcj1 the ,administrator shall convene an annual conference to provide an opportunity for eligible entities and other relevant stakeholders to share their experience and expertise in implementing zero-waste practices4 #h4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,grants for zero-,waste projects ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section #c #aej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjca1 to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,grants for landfill diversion ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section #d #bej1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjca1 to remain available until expended4