Outlines of Plastic Waste Debate Emerge in Congress as Lawmakers Step Up Focus

While it’s still early stages, some lawmakers are floating ideas like producer responsibility bills for packaging and European Union-style restrictions on some single-use plastics. But other legislators seem to be steering toward proposals that focus on more traditional goals, like building out government-financed curbside recycling infrastructure.

What’s emerging are the broad outlines of a debate. Both groups say municipal recycling programs should get more help in the wake of Asian countries cutting off imports of recyclables. But some lawmakers want Washington to go further and put requirements on industry, like recycled content.

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