STEWARD Act of 2025

Legislative Summary: STEWARD Act of 2025

Bill Number: S 351 | Session: 119 | Jurisdiction: United States
Full Title: Strategies To Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development Act of 2025

Executive Overview

The STEWARD Act of 2025 is designed to modernize and expand the United States' recycling and composting infrastructure, with a specific focus on "underserved communities." The bill combines a competitive grant program to build physical infrastructure (such as transfer stations and curbside programs) with a comprehensive data-collection mandate to better understand the national waste stream and the effectiveness of circular markets.

Key Provisions

1. Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program

The bill establishes a pilot grant program administered by the EPA to improve recycling access.
* Target Goal: To implement a "hub-and-spoke" model for recycling infrastructure in underserved communities.
* Eligible Entities: States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and public-private partnerships.
* Funding Details:
* Grant Size: Between $500,000 and $15,000,000 per award.
* Federal Share: Up to 95% of project costs.
* Set-Aside: At least 70% of funds must be reserved for projects in underserved communities.
* Priority: Preference is given to communities that have no more than one materials recovery facility (MRF) within a 75-mile radius.
* Authorized Use of Funds: Increasing the number of transfer stations, expanding curbside collection, and utilizing public-private partnerships.
* Prohibition: Grant funds cannot be used for recycling education programs.

2. Data Collection and Reporting

The Act mandates the EPA to gather significant amounts of data to create a clearer picture of the U.S. recycling landscape:
* Composting Report: An evaluation of barriers to composting, existing infrastructure, and the use of compostable packaging.
* MRF Inventory: An inventory of all materials recovery facilities in the U.S. and the specific materials they can process (e.g., specific plastic resins, glass, aluminum).
* National Rates: The development of a standardized national recycling rate based on voluntary data from States.
* End-Market Analysis: Reports on the domestic and international sale prices (dollars per ton) of recyclable bales and compost.

3. Federal Accountability and Circular Market Study

• Federal Agency Reporting: The Comptroller General must report every two years (until 2033) on the recycling and composting rates of all federal agencies and their purchase of recovered materials.
• Circular Market Study: The EPA must develop a metric to determine how much recyclable material is being "diverted" from a circular market (i.e., lost to landfills or incineration) and analyze how this affects consumer prices.

Financial Impact and Timeline

• Infrastructure Funding: $30 million authorized per year from fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
• Data/Administrative Funding: $4 million authorized per year from fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
• Implementation Timeline:
  • 18 Months: Deadline for the EPA to establish the pilot grant program.
  • 1 Year: Deadline for the EPA to develop a circular market metric.
  • 2 Years: Deadline for the first composting and federal agency reports.
  • 3 Years: Deadline for the first MRF inventory and end-market report.

Who is Affected?

• Local Governments & Tribes: Gain access to significant federal funding to build recycling infrastructure.
• Underserved Communities: Specifically those in "recycling deserts" (far from MRFs) will see increased accessibility to curbside and transfer services.
• Federal Agencies: Will be subject to new public reporting requirements regarding their waste and procurement.
• Private Sector: Public-private partnerships are encouraged, and manufacturers of compostable packaging will be scrutinized in EPA reports.