Recently, the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies (REUSE) Act, which directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect data on reuse and refill systems across various sectors, including consumer packaging, personal care products, and wholesale shipping of retail goods.

This legislation also instructs the EPA to provide information on the types of support at the local, state, and federal levels that could enhance reuse and refill systems. This information will help inform stakeholders about how to harness the environmental benefits and economic potential of reuse and refill systems.

“For years, we were taught the three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle; but too often the reality with plastics is the three Bs – buried, burned, and borne out to sea,” said Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. “We are on the way to improving reuse systems as the REUSE Act comes even one step closer to becoming law. When we better understand how reuse and refill systems most effectively operate, we are better able to create a healthier planet and future.”

The REUSE Act demonstrates a significant step forward in reducing waste and conserving resources across the country by turning reuse and refill systems into a central part of a circular economy.

“Refillable and reusable systems play a key role in reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable economy. This legislation will give Congress the information it needs to understand where these systems work best, what challenges remain, and how we can support their growth in a way that benefits both consumers and businesses,” said West Virginia’s U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.

To learn more about the REUSE Act, including the full text of the legislation, click here.