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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5845 (116th)

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 February 2020

Last action

12 February 2020 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sponsors

Alan Lowenthal, Katherine Clark, Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Ed Case, Gerald Connolly, ELIOT ENGEL, Debra Haaland, ALCEE HASTINGS, Jared Huffman, Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Barbara Lee, Mike Levin, Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Betty McCollum, Seth Moulton, Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Harley Rouda, John Sarbanes, Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Maxine Waters, Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Kim Schrier, Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Bennie Thompson, Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Frederica Wilson, Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

Subjects

Environment, Taxation

Source updated

20 January 2026

Environment · Taxation

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 This bill sets forth requirements related to waste and recycling collection systems for a variety of products and materials, including plastics. 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, 2022, 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 facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency 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. 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. 11 February 2020

    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

  2. 11 February 2020

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 11 February 2020

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 12 February 2020

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 99 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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