119-HR-5846 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

Keep the EPA’s recycling grants going for another decade—$65 million per year—to help communities upgrade recycling systems.

What It Does

H.R. 5846 simply extends funding authority for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program. It adds $65 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 so EPA can continue awarding competitive grants that help states, Tribes, and local communities plan, build, and modernize recycling and related waste-management infrastructure.

Who’s For It

• Sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D–NY).
• Local governments and Tribal nations that rely on grants to replace aging equipment, expand curbside programs, or build transfer/sorting capacity—often citing reduced landfill use and cleaner recycling streams.
• Recycling program operators and some environmental groups who argue steady funding helps standardize what’s recyclable, cut contamination, and support circular-economy jobs.

Who’s Against It

• Fiscal conservatives wary of extending federal spending or creating reliance on grants that some states or localities could fund themselves.
• Skeptics of traditional recycling who contend dollars would be better spent on waste reduction, reuse, and producer responsibility rather than on more sorting and processing infrastructure.
• Stakeholders who prioritize other waste strategies (e.g., landfill gas capture, advanced thermal treatments) and view program‑specific funding as picking winners.

What’s Next

As of October 30, 2025, the bill has been introduced (October 28, 2025) and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Next steps would typically include a hearing and/or markup, a House floor vote, Senate consideration, and the President’s signature. Even if enacted, annual appropriations would still be needed for funds to flow.