SEPA

BUILDING A CIRCULAR
ECONOMY FOR ALL:

Progress Toward
Transformative Change



EPA Office of Resource
Conservation and Recovery
(September 2022)

EPA530-R-22-003


-------
"We need a transformative vision for our waste management system—one that
is inclusive, more equitable, and reflects the urgency of the climate crisis."

—EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
2021 EPA National Recycling Strategy

Material processing and waste affects people and the environment at many levels. About half of total global greenhouse
gas emissions result from the extraction and processing of materials, fuels, and food.1 Greenhouse gas emissions
from plastics production alone are expected to double by 2060.? Locally, communities—particularly those with
environmental justice concerns—experience the environmental and human health impacts of waste more than
others.

One important way to tackle these problems is through recycling. Yet, 50 years after the
introduction of the recycling symbol on the first Earth Day, the U.S. recycling system has
not kept pace with the new types of materials, products, and waste generated. And
EPA understands that recycling alone will not be enough to solve the climate crisis,
environmental injustice, or pollution.

Meeting these challenges requires a transformative vision coupled with bold action. Our economy must transition
to a more sustainable, circular approach focused on reducing material use; redesigning materials to be less resource
intensive, and recapturing "waste" as a resource to manufacture new materials and products. EPA recognizes that this
transition must be grounded in social and environmental equity.

EPA, led by the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), has already made significant progress toward
achieving a circular economy for all This document highlights ORCR's progress toward this goal.

We Are on a Path Toward Transformative Change

Congressional commitment to reinventing and reinvesting in recycling is embodied in new legislation, new initiatives, and
unprecedented funding. This support drives and shapes ORCR's vision and path toward a circular economy. First, ORCR is
undertaking ambitious work authorized under the December 2020 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. Enacted to address the threat of
plastic pollution and support grants to invest in recycling, Save Our Seas 2.0 set the stage by defining a circular economy.
Then, in November 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act—also referred to as the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law—to provide historic funding to develop and implement the vision reflected in EPA's Circular Economy
Strategy Series.

New Authority:	Historic Funding:	Strategic Vision:

Save Our Seos Act 2.0	Bipartisan	Circular Economy

Infrastructure Law	Strategy Series

1	https: / / www.resourcepanel.ora/reports/alobal-resources-outlook

2	https://www.oecd.ora/ environment/plastics/increased-plastic-leakaae-and-areen house-aas-emissions.htm

2


-------
We Are Making Progress Toward a Circular Economy for All

ORCR has already made significant progress on the path toward building a circular economy for all.

Published Part One of the Circular Economy Strategy Series

The Circular Economy Strategy Series outlines a transformative 10-year vision that embraces circularity
and sustainable materials management and addresses climate change and environmental justice. EPA
launched the National Recycling Strategy, the first part of the series, on the same day that President
Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: November 15, 2021, America Recycles Day. The
National Recycling Strategy—published in English and Spanish—highlights the actions needed from
governments, industry, and others to modernize our recycling and waste management system.

Eighteen actions identified in the strategy are underway. This includes 13 EPA-led actions, as well as
actions led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department
of Energy. Actions include creating a national map of existing recycling infrastructure,
conducting a financial needs assessment related to recycling infrastructure in the
United States, researching domestic and international circular economy policies,
providing grants to support community recycling programs, and developing a recycling
measurement guide for state, local, and tribal governments.

To date, 2,008 entities have signed up to stay informed about the National Recycling
Strategy activities and accomplishments!

Nil

2,008

ENTITIES

requested updates about
National Recycling Strategy
activities and accomplishments

Developed Comprehensive Information on Strategies to Reduce Plastic Waste

At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in oceans every year, threatening coastal ecosystems, affecting
Our communities, and harming marine life,® The plastics crisis demands innovation and incentives to
transform material design, use, and disposal.

The 2020 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is the most comprehensive legislation ever
passed to address the issue. It mandates EPA to collaborate with key partners
to identify innovative uses for plastic waste, recommendations for overcoming
barriers to recycling, incentives to create new end-use markets for recycled
plastics, and opportunities to minimize new plastic waste. The Act also
authorizes EPA to create and administer the new Solid Waste Infrastructure for
Recycling grant program, funded by the 2020 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:.

ORCR has teamed up with EPA's Office of Water and other federal agencies
including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S.

Department of Transportation, and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to lead the development of studies and strategies under the
Save Our Seas 2.0 Act that will help break barriers and incentivize innovation
to reduce plastic waste. ORCR also contributes to this work as part of EPA's role
in the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee 4

Unless We
Transform Our
Business as Usual.

Global plastic production is
projected to grow by 40% over the
next decade.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the
plastics lifecycle are projected to
more than double by 2060.

Engaged with Diverse Groups Nationally and Across All Regions

The 2021 Bipartisan infrastructure Law provides EPA with immense federal funding to develop and implement new initiatives

3

pdated%2003-21 -2022.pdf


-------
• • •

115

participant engagement meetings held across
the country on National Recycling Strategy/
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law activities

4,719

participants representing states, Tribal Nations,
local government, nongovernmental organizations,
and industry reached through meetings

&

CIRCULAR ECONOMY STRATEGY SERIES

Bipartisan
Infrastructure
Law (BIL)

to support communities and spur industry
toward creating a circular economy for all.

This funding supports implementation of EPA's
Circular Economy Strategy Series and the
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant
program authorized under the Save Our Seas
2.0 Act. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
also authorizes a new Recycling Education
and Outreach grant program, as well as
Battery Collection Best Practices and Labeling
Guidelines.

ORCR is designing the new grant programs and
battery guidelines with meaningful input from a
wide range of groups. ORCR has conducted
115 feedback sessions nationally and across
all EPA Regions. The discussions generated
valuable insights on recycling challenges,
barriers, and needs. ORCR has compiled
and referred to this feedback to inform each
program's design. The goal is to create
programs with requirements and resources that
are equitable and effective. Both of the grant programs established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are covered under
President Biden's Justice 40 Initiative.

o
~

$275M Solid
Waste Infrastructure
for Recycling Grants

$75M Recycling
Education and
Outreach Grants

$10M Battery
Collection Best
Practices and
$15M Labeling
Guidelines

Objectives:

A.	Improve Markets for Recycling Commodities

B.	Increase Collection and Improve Materials
Management Infrastructure

C.	Reduce Contamination in the Recycled Materials Stream

D.	Enhance Policies to Support Recycling

E.	Standardize Measurement and Increase Data Collection

MEETINGS ATTENDED BY PARTICIPANT TYPE

General Public

States

Municipal and Local Government

Tribal Nations
Nongovernmental Organization/
Community-Based Organization
Industry

14

MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY EPA REGION

Lhliii.,

HQ

Issued Requests for Information on Recycling Grants and Battery
Best Practices and Labeling Guidelines

On June 9, 2022, ORCR issued Requests for Information for the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law-funded initiatives to further engage diverse organizations and
communities to inform the grant programs and best practices and guidelines for
batteries.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program. This program will help
address organizations' recycling infrastructure needs and challenges. Improving
recycling infrastructure is key to improving recycling rates and decreasing
contamination across the country.

Recycling Education and Outreach grant program. This program will help increase
awareness and decrease confusion around what is recyclable.

407

total RFI comment
submissions

Solid Waste Infrastructure
for Recycling grant program

fu5

c

Recycling Education and
Outreach grant program

sO

Batteries i*00"*1 1


-------
Battery Collection Best Practices. This resource for states, territories, tribes, and local governments aims to provide
information on increasing the circularity of batteries and critical minerals, as well as the safe management of batteries.

Voluntary Battery Labeling Guidelines. This resource for battery producers and consumers will provide information about
the recyclability of batteries.

Next Steps Toward Building a Circular Economy For All

Over the rest of 2022, ORCR expects to complete the following Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and circular economy efforts.

~	Releasing New Circular Economy Strategies

Because recycling alone will not achieve a circular economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, EPA is
developing other strategies in the Circular Economy Strategy Series to identify the actions needed to reduce impacts
associated with material use, consumption, and disposal. EPA is developing a food waste and organics strategy
(working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and a plastics strategy and plans to release drafts to the
public in 2022. Earlier this year, EPA began engagement activities to inform the development of its critical minerals
and electronics strategy, which will include actions to support the recovery of critical minerals through recycling.

~	Developing the Model Recycling Program Toolkit

This resource for states, tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector will educate
consumers about recycling, promote participation in recycling programs, and reduce recycling stream
contamination. The toolkit will include a community self-assessment guide to identify gaps in existing recycling
programs, training modules to enable states and nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance to local
governments, consumer educational materials that can be adapted for use in recycling programs, and a guide to
measure the effectiveness of funding received under the Recycling Education and Outreach grant program.

~	Publishing Innovative Approaches for Reducing Plastics

EPA is developing the reports requested under the 2020 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and plans to release them for
public comment in the coming months. These reports identify challenges and solutions in managing and reducing
plastic waste.

Putting Recycling Grants and Resources to Work

EPA plans to finalize details on the first round of funding for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant
program and the Recycling Education and Outreach grant program and release Requests for Applications in the
fall of 2022. We wil also continue research to finalize the Battery Collection Best Practices and Voluntary Battery
Labeling Guidelines resources. These initiatives are poised to make real change in communities soon.

Stay Informed on Our Progress, Help Us Achieve Our Vision

ORCR is leading the way on building a circular economy for all, but we need your ideas and involvement to keep the
momentum going.

Visit the RCRA Bipartisan	Sign Up for Updates	Contact Us by Email:

Infrastructure Law Website	Through Stay Connected	SWIFR@epa.gov.

RecvclingEd@epa.gov.
Batteries@epa.aov


-------