Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill creates a new pilot program at the EPA to help communities that currently have little or no access to recycling. It focuses on rural or underserved areas where it is often too expensive or too far to transport recyclable materials to a processing center.
• Local governments, states, and Tribes can apply for grants ranging from 500,000 dollars to 15 million dollars. These funds can be used to build new transfer stations, expand curbside pickup, or partner with private companies to make collecting and moving recyclables more affordable.
• The program prioritizes areas that are recycling deserts, specifically places that have only one or no processing facilities within a 75-mile radius. At least 70 percent of the total funding must go toward projects in these underserved communities.
• The bill authorizes 30 million dollars in spending each year through 2029. The federal government will cover up to 90 percent of the project costs, and the EPA can waive the remaining 10 percent for communities facing severe financial hardship.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.