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HR 1318 102th Congress House Environmental Protection Beverage containers Biodegradation Congressional reporting requirements Container industry Federal preemption Fines (Penalties) Labeling Municipal ordinances Municipal services Packaging Plastics Recycling of waste products Signs and symbols State laws

Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1991

Introduced: March 7, 1991 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 18, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials.
Mar 7, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 7, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1991 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to require plastic containers manufactured or offered for sale in the United States to be coded to identify the principal plastic resin used in such containers. Establishes a symbol and numbers identifying specific types of resins, including degradable resins, for such codes.

Prohibits States or political subdivisions from: (1) enforcing any law applicable to plastic coding unless requirements are the same as requirements under this Act; and (2) enforcing any ban on plastic containers coded in compliance with this Act unless such ban is equally applicable to containers made from other materials.

Prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.

Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on technology to facilitate the automated sorting of recyclable and nonrecyclable plastics in municipal solid waste and to separate such plastics by resin type.

Authorizes appropriations.

What's happening now March 18, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Hazardous Materials.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Mar 7, 1991
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Mar 7, 1991
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1318: Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1318/
MLA
"H.R. 1318: Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1318/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1318, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1318/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1318: Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-1318/)
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