Jacob Shepherd, P.E.
Legislative Liaison – SWANA Mid-Atlantic Chapter / Project Manager – SCS Engineers
jshepherd@scsengineers.com
SWANA UPDATES
SWANA Partners with the U.S. Plastic Pact
SWANA and the US Plastics Pact have embarked on an all-new partnership, advancing the goal of bringing together stakeholders. The US Plastics Pact will host an in-person event for its activators in November, co-located with the brand-new SWANA conference, RCon™.
RCon takes place in Columbus, Ohio, November 12-15, 2025, and the US Plastics Pact event will occur November 11-12. Participants will have the opportunity to register for either event or both events. The Plastics Pact event will include breakout sessions of its committees, meetings to discuss its roadmap, and tours of local manufacturing and recycling facilities. RCon will include technical sessions, keynote presentations, peer learning, experiential learning, courses, and more. Registration for RCon will open on May 20, and the call for proposals is currently open.
SWANA Releases New ARF Report on Recycling Trends
The SWANA Applied Research Foundation (ARF) released a new research report titled “An Analysis of Recycling Market Trends and Impacts.” This report provides an overview of recycling market trends, emerging end markets, and new designs in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Readers will gain an understanding of pricing trends, changing materials, and other insights to plan for the future of recycling programs. The report provides examples of growing end markets with case studies of end uses for hard-to-recycle materials and examples of investments in MRF expansions and technologies.
New Task Force Aims to Improve Strategic Packaging Recyclability
The Packaging Recyclability Advancement Task Force was launched to improve recyclability of packaging formats as a co-effort between the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), GreenBlue, the U.S. Plastics Pact, The Recycling Partnership, the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). The Task Force will develop clear, actionable guidance for brands to consider in their packaging design and decisions, considering the factors that determine what makes packaging truly recyclable. It will utilize the existing How2Recycle® recyclability assessment framework and The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity Framework.
NWRA and SWANA Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Safety, Education, and Advocacy on Behalf of the Waste and Recycling Industry
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their commitment to collaboration on key industry issues, including safety, education, and advocacy. The MOU outlines a framework for joint efforts to improve industry safety outcomes, enhance professional education and training, and align on critical public policy priorities. The agreement also grants SWANA a non-fee license to use the “Slow Down to Get Around” campaign, furthering outreach efforts to protect frontline workers. The two organizations will also hold quarterly virtual and annual in-person safety committee meetings to continue advancing shared goals.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
FEDERAL
The 119th Congress is currently in session. Bills related to solid waste or recycling currently include:
S.351 – STEWARD Act of 2025 (Strategies to Eliminate Waste and Accelerate Recycling Development) – Establishes a pilot program to improve recycling accessibility and require the EPA to collect and disseminate data on recycling and composting programs in the U.S. Placed on legislative calendar.
HR.91 – Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025 – Transfers authority of the Toxics Substances and Disease Registry Agency authorized by CERCLA to the Department of Health and Human Services. Referred to committee.
HR.191 – Inflation Reduction Act of 2025 – Repeals the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022, which included tax credits for biogas projects and incentives for using RNG as a source of hydrogen. Referred to committees.
HR.1918/S.897 – Farewell to Foam Act – Would prohibit the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service ware, expanded polystyrene loose fill, and expanded polystyrene coolers. Referred to committees.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Confirms Funding under SWIFR and REO Grant Programs
[From Waste Dive] After uncertainty regarding funding, EPA announced that they have not canceled the selection process for the second round of Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) and Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) grants. EPA indicated it is “currently working through the approval process” for these grants, set to be disbursed later this year, the agency said. For this round of SWIFR grants, the EPA expects to disburse a total of about $58 million to communities, states and territories sometime in the summer or fall. Another $20 million in SWIFR grants, meant for Tribes and intertribal consortia, is also going through the approval process.
EPA Will Reconsider PFAS Drinking Water Standards
The EPA announced that it will reconsider drinking water standards for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS and retain current rules in the meantime, but extend the deadline for compliance to 2031. Current regulations adopted last year gave until 2029 to comply with new standards. The rule limits the maximum contamination level for these chemicals. Under the agency’s new plan, the regulations will be rescinded and reconsidered. The agency plans to begin a new rulemaking process in the fall and to issue a new rule next spring. EPA also said it plans to start a program called PFAS OUT to “share resources, tools, funding, and technical assistance to help utilities meet the federal drinking water standards.” [A portion of this was sourced from the Washington Post]
Maryland Legislative/News
The 447th legislative session convened on January 8, 2024. Bills related to solid waste and recycling currently include:
Passed Bills:
HB1111 – Solar Energy Systems – Floating and Located on Brownfields – Would allow county or municipal corporation to exempt brownfield (and closed landfills if MDE-regulated) solar projects from certain taxation.
SB0901 – Package Material Producer Responsibility Plans – Requires producers of packaging materials to provide producer responsibility plans to MDE and implement plans by July 1, 2028. MDE must develop implementing regulations and develop a list of materials covered under these requirements.
Other Bills Considered:
| Bill No. | Name | Description | Status |
| HB0042 / SB0134 | Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs | Surcharge of $2/ton (infl. adj.) to fund food waste reduction and on-farm organics diversion. | Referred to Committee |
| HB0069 | Environment – Plastic Products – Postconsumer Recycled Content Program | Plastic product producers to pay an annual fee to MDE; min. postconsumer recycled content in products | Referred to Committee |
| HB0083 | Environment – Tire Recycling Fee – Alterations | MDE tire recycling fee adjusted for inflation | Referred to Committee |
| HB0232 / SB0346 | Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program | Establishes program to increase recycling/reuse of beverage containers; Framework for beverage container EPR | Referred to Committee |
| HB0338 | State Buildings and State Highways – Collection and Disposal of Yard Waste | Requires yard waste collected on state properties/highways to use reusable or compostable bags; requires disposal within state | Passed House; in Senate |
| HB0407 | Environment – Municipal Recycling Plans – Requirement | Initial recycling plans (5-year update cycle) for the largest municipal corporation in a county or regional plan; provide for 20% or 35% min. reduction. | Referred to Committee |
| HB0931 / SB0591 | Environment – Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program – Establishment (Electronics Recycling Health and Safety Modernization Act) | Establishes a covered electronic device recycling program funded by consumer fees and manufacturer registration fees. | Referred to Committee |
| HB1058 | Emissions Standards, Ambient Air Quality Standards, Solid Waste Management – Local Authority | Revises existing regulation to clarify authority of local governments that more stringent standards related to air emissions and solid waste can be enacted. | Referred to Committee |
| HB1092 | Recycling – Prohibition on the Chemical Conversion of Plastic | Excludes chemical conversion processes from the definition of recycling and prohibits building a facility that performs these processes. | Referred to Committee |
| SB0686 | Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products | Requires EPR for batteries and battery-containing products by July 1, 2026 and battery stewardship program | Referred to Committee |
Delaware Legislative/News
The 152nd legislative session convened on January 14, 2024. No updates.
District of Columbia Legislative/News
B26-0058 – Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025 – Establishes a beverage container deposit program of 10 cents per container (with future adjustments), refunded when returned, in an effort to increase recycling rates and reduce litter. Also establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for beverage containers that requires registration, payment of a registration fee, and beverage stewardship plans for distributors of beverage containers. Some requirements would be effective in 2027, with all requirements effective January 1, 2028.
NEWS UPDATES
Howard County, MD Executive Calvin Ball’s Impactful Ellicott City Safe and Sound Debris-Clearing Initiative Surpasses 100,000 Pound Mark – March 18, 2025 – Howard County Maryland
Food Recovery Network Makes Significant Strides in Washington D.C. to Combat Food Waste and Hunger – March 21, 2025 – Waste Advantage
Packaging groups back bipartisan recycling bill in Congress – March 21, 2025 – Waste Dive
Batteries – April 4, 2025 – Montgomery County MD
Maryland Passes Packaging EPR Bill – April 14, 2025 – Waste Advantage
Baltimore Ravens Name RTS Official Waste and Recycling Partner to Advance Sustainability and Innovation at M&T Bank Stadium – April 16, 2025 – PR Newswire
Where does hurricane waste go? We tracked it with Air Tags to find out – April 17, 2025 – Washington Post
WM opens $50M MRF in Maryland as part of regional upgrade plan – April 28, 2025 – Waste Dive
WM acquires DC-area WB Waste Solutions – May 7, 2025 – Waste Dive