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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2238 (117th)

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 March 2021

Last action

30 June 2022 · Committee

Status

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Sponsors

Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47], Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5], Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17], Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12], Marie Newman, Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

Subjects

Environment, Taxation

Source updated

21 January 2026

Environment · Taxation

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 26 March 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 26 March 2021

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 26 March 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 29 March 2021

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

    Source: Committee

  5. 30 June 2022

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 26 March 2021

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 26 March 2021

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 26 March 2021

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 135 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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