Skip to main content
HR 1686 113th Congress House

Trash Reduction Act of 2013

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a retail tax on disposable carryout bags, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 23, 2013 See on congress.gov
Taxation Congressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsRetail and wholesale trades
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Sales and excise taxesSolid waste and recycling
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 1, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
Apr 23, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 23, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E511)
Apr 23, 2013
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 1, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Trash Reduction Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require retailers to pay a $0.05 excise tax on each disposable carryout bag provided to a consumer. Defines "disposable carryout bag" to mean a bag of any material, commonly plastic or kraft paper, which is provided to a consumer at the point of sale to carry or cover purchases, merchandise, or items. Exempts reusable bags and certain other bags used for specified purposes from such tax. Allows a refund of such tax for retailers who establish a disposable carryout bag recycling program.

Establishes in the Treasury the Disposable carryout bag Trust Fund to hold tax revenues generated by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments from such Trust Fund for the disposable carryout bag recycling program and for the land and water conservation fund established by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act in reducing the use of disposable carryout bags and encouraging recycling of such bags.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1686: Trash Reduction Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1686/
MLA
"H.R. 1686: Trash Reduction Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1686/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1686, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1686/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1686: Trash Reduction Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1686/)
Report a problem