REUSE Act of 2026

The REUSE Act of 2026, formally titled the Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies Act, would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a comprehensive report on reuse and refill systems. Within two years of enactment, the EPA Administrator would need to make publicly available a report examining the feasibility of and best practices for reuse and refill systems across various sectors. These sectors could include food service, consumer food and beverage products, cleaning products, personal care products, transportation and shipping, and educational institutions.

The report would address key practical questions, including methods to ensure equitable distribution of reuse and refill systems in communities of varying sizes, and the types of local, state, and federal support needed to expand these systems. If enacted, this bill would not directly mandate changes to products or business practices, but rather would provide information to policymakers and the public about how reuse and refill systems could work in different industries. The bill is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.