Federal working group to standardize recycled plastic tracking across industries
S. 5182 — Tracking Plastic Act of 2026 · Filed by Adam Schiff (D-CA) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 30, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a Federal working group led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, EPA, and Department of Commerce to develop recommendations for tracking recycled plastic content in products and improving domestic markets for recycled plastics. The group will coordinate with states, local governments, nonprofits, material recovery facilities, and academic institutions to establish standardized measurement systems, traceability standards, and reporting frameworks for recycled plastic use across packaging, construction, infrastructure, and automotive sectors, with annual public reports to Congress over a 10-year period.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is establishing a multi-agency working group to develop voluntary recommendations and standardized measurement systems for recycled plastic traceability—a coordination and standard-setting mechanism rather than a regulatory mandate or appropriation.
What the text implies
- The bill creates no binding requirements on industry; recommendations are voluntary, meaning adoption depends on future regulatory action or market incentives that may never materialize.
- A 10-year timeline with annual reporting creates ongoing federal coordination costs and staff time, but no dedicated appropriation is specified in the text, leaving funding mechanism unclear.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Plastic reclaimers and material recovery facilities (potential market expansion for recycled content; Packaging and automotive manufacturers (standardized measurement reduces compliance costs across mul