Study on the diversion of recyclable materials from a circular market

(a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a metric for determining the proportion of recyclable materials in commercial and municipal waste streams that are being diverted from a circular market. (b) Study; report Not later than 1 year after the development of a metric under subsection (a), the Administrator shall conduct a study of, and submit to Congress a report on, the proportion of recyclable materials in commercial and municipal waste streams that, during each of the 10 calendar years preceding the year of submission of the report, were diverted from a circular market. (c) Data The report under subsection (b) shall provide data on specific recyclable materials, including aluminum, plastics, paper and paperboard, textiles, and glass, that were prevented from remaining in a circular market through disposal or elimination, and to what use those specific recyclable materials were lost. (d) Evaluation The report under subsection (b) shall include an evaluation of whether the establishment or improvement of recycling programs would— (1) improve recycling rates; (2) reduce the quantity of recyclable materials being unutilized in a circular market; and (3) affect prices paid by consumers for products using materials recycled in the circular market.