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S 984 117th Congress Senate Environmental Protection Accounting and auditing Administrative law and regulatory procedures Advanced technology and technological innovations Advisory bodies Air quality Alcoholic beverages Alternative and renewable resources Aquatic ecology Business records Child health Civil actions and liability Climate change and greenhouse gases Congressional oversight Consumer affairs Drug, alcohol, tobacco use Ecology Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Environmental education

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021

Introduced: March 25, 2021 Introduced by: Merkley, Jeff Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mar 25, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021

This bill sets forth requirements and incentives to reduce the production of a variety of products and materials, including plastics, and increase efforts to collect, recycle, or compost products and materials.

The bill makes certain producers of products (e.g., packaging, paper, single-use products, beverage containers, or food service products) fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting the products after consumer use. In addition, the bill establishes (1) minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted; and (2) an increasing percentage of recycled content that must be contained in beverage containers.

Beginning on January 1, 2023, the bill phases out a variety of single-use products, such as plastic utensils. The bill also sets forth provisions to encourage the reduction of single-use products, including by establishing programs to refund consumers for returning beverage containers and by establishing a tax on carryout bags.

The bill creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for certain facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must publish guidelines for a national standardized labeling system for recycling and composting receptacles. Producers must include labels on their products that are easy to read and indicate whether the products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable. The EPA must also ensure that certain clothes washers have filtration units as required by this bill.

Finally, the bill establishes limitations on the export of plastic waste to other countries.

What's happening now March 25, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 1507 Related bill A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate certain limitations with respe…
  • HR 7861 Related bill Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act
  • HR 2238 Identical bill Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 4

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

 Cosponsors 12
All 12 Democratic 11 Independent 1
D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Jan 10, 2022
 D
Ossoff, Jon
Georgia · Dec 16, 2021
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Apr 13, 2021
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Mar 25, 2021
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Mar 25, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 984: Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-984/
MLA
"S. 984: Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-984/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 984, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-984/.
Markdown link
[S. 984: Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-984/)
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