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HR 3977 114th Congress House

Trash Reduction Act of 2015

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

Introduced: February 23, 2016 See on congress.gov
Taxation Congressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsRetail and wholesale trades
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Sales and excise taxesSolid waste and recycling
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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
Nov 13, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
Nov 13, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Nov 5, 2015
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.
Nov 5, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 13, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Trash Reduction Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require retailers to pay a $0.10 excise tax on each carryout bag provided to a consumer. A "carryout bag" means 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 other items. Reusable bags and certain other bags used for specified purposes are exempt from such tax.

The bill allows retailers who establish a qualified plastic carryout bag recycling program a rebate for each recyclable bag used by the retailer.

The bill establishes the Carryout Bag Trust Fund to hold tax revenues generated by this Act and directs the Department of the Treasury to make payments from such Trust Fund for the qualified plastic carryout bag recycling program and to the Land and Water Conservation Fund established by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.

The Government Accountability Office must study and report to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act in reducing the use of carryout bags and encouraging recycling of such bags.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 23, 2016
 D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Feb 12, 2016
 D
Huffman, Jared
California · Nov 17, 2015
 D
Beyer, Donald S.
Virginia · Nov 5, 2015
 D
Lieu, Ted
California · Nov 5, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3977: Trash Reduction Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3977/
MLA
"H.R. 3977: Trash Reduction Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3977/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3977, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3977/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3977: Trash Reduction Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3977/)
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