Findings

Congress finds that— (1) there is significant consumer confusion about which covered materials are recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable; (2) nationwide definitions of the terms recyclable, compostable, reusable, and refillable would provide— (A) producers and consumers clarity in how to recycle, compost, reuse, or refill labeled products; and (B) consumers confidence that covered materials that have a chasing arrows symbol, or an equivalent symbol for recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable, are properly labeled; (3) the improper use of the chasing arrows symbol, or an equivalent symbol indicating that a covered material is recyclable, compostable, reuseable, or refillable, leads to confusion and qualifies as a deceptive practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.); (4) encouraging producers to design their covered materials to be recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable would reduce waste and emissions, help the environment, protect resources, lower expenses for businesses, communities, and consumers, and diminish the need for virgin raw materials; (5) proper labeling of covered materials would encourage end-use consumers to properly recycle, compost, reuse, and refill covered materials, including packaging, food service products, and beverage containers; (6) understanding what does not qualify as recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable is critical for producers, State and local governments, and consumers; (7) standardized labeling provides producers with clear enforceable criteria they can follow to ensure that their covered materials meet applicable requirements if the producers choose to use a label; (8) establishing definitions of the terms recyclable, compostable, reusable, and refillable that can be updated as technology and systems advance would benefit consumers, producers, State and local governments, and waste management facilities; (9) having clear, consistent labels would— (A) assist material recovery facilities and municipalities in their efforts to recycle and compost covered materials; (B) assist in educating the public about those efforts; and (C) reduce costs and waste; and (10) part 260 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly referred to as the Green Guides), provides rules for marketing claims that are outdated and do not provide sufficient information to establish labeling criteria at the national level.