Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993

Summary: Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, to transmit comprehensive plastics, automobile, and appliance recycling plans to the Congress. 
Directs the Secretary to establish cooperative programs with the appropriate industries to conduct joint plastics, automobile, and appliance recycling technology research and development projects.  Authorizes financial assistance for such projects. 
Requires the Secretary to establish three national recycling research and development centers at institutions of higher education to conduct plastics research projects.  Provides for grants to such centers, subject to appropriations. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Recycling Research and Development 
Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE RECYCLING PROGRAMS.

    (a) Plastics, Automobile, and Appliance Recycling.--Subtitle D of 
the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sections:

``SEC. 4011. PLASTICS RECYCLING.

    ``(a) Comprehensive Plastics Recycling Plan.--
            ``(1) Initial plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of the Recycling Research and Development Act 
        of 1993, the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of 
        Conservation and Renewable Energy and after consultation with 
        the persons and industries specified in subsection (b)(1), 
        shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a comprehensive 
        plastics recycling plan that includes--
                    ``(A) research priorities critical to improved 
                plastics recycling;
                    ``(B) identification of ongoing research in 
                industry, academia, and the Federal Government, 
                including research efforts carried out at the National 
                Laboratories;
                    ``(C) strategies for the cooperative program 
                established under subsection (b), including technical 
                milestones to be achieved toward specific goals during 
                each fiscal year, for all major Federal activities and 
                projects under the program;
                    ``(D) coordination by the Secretary of Energy of 
                ongoing research projects under the program established 
                under subsection (b), including associated or related 
                activities such as materials research.
            ``(2) Updated plans.--The Secretary of Energy shall update 
        and submit to the Congress the plan prepared under paragraph 
        (1) whenever the Secretary proposes significant changes to the 
        plan.
    ``(b) Cooperative Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
        establish a cooperative program with the plastics industry and 
        other appropriate persons and industries with expertise in 
        solid waste planning, management and disposal, source 
        reduction, and recycling, and the recycling centers established 
        under subsection (c), to conduct joint and cooperative 
        recycling technology research and development projects, 
        including research--
                    ``(A) to determine which plastic products and 
                materials are present in large amounts in the solid 
                waste stream but not currently recycled in significant 
                amounts, and how to promote increased recycling of such 
                products and materials;
                    ``(B) to develop improved methods for collecting, 
                sorting, and reclaiming plastics, including--
                            ``(i) fast, automated identification 
                        systems to identify plastic parts for accurate 
                        separation;
                            ``(ii) chemical, mechanical, or rheological 
                        technologies to improve the compatibility of 
                        plastics; and
                            ``(iii) chemical or mechanical technologies 
                        to improve the quality of plastic materials 
                        recovery and recycling;
                    ``(C) to develop new commercial applications for 
                recycled plastic products and materials and ways to 
                expand commercial markets for recycled plastic products 
                and materials; and
                    ``(D) to develop plastics recycling methods and 
                systems that conserve energy inherent in recycled 
                plastic products and materials.
            ``(2) Requests for proposals.--The Secretary of Energy 
        shall, not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment 
        of the Act, solicit proposals to conduct the projects described 
        in paragraph (1) and may, after such solicitation, enter into 
        agreements to conduct such projects. As part of a solicitation 
        under this paragraph, the Secretary of Energy may propose 
        specific joint and cooperative projects.
            ``(3) Federal funding.--The Secretary of Energy may provide 
        financial assistance for a project conducted under this 
        subsection in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the 
        total cost of the project.
    ``(c) Recycling Centers.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
        establish 3 national recycling research and development centers 
        at institutions of higher education to conduct research 
        projects described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Grants.--The Secretary of Energy shall, subject to 
        appropriations, provide a grant to each center established 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) in the amount not to exceed 50 
        percent of the funds required by the institution to conduct its 
        assigned activities, with the remaining funds being provided by 
        non-Federal sources (such as the State in which the center is 
        located, the institution of higher education involved, and the 
        private sector).
    ``(d) Support.--The Secretary of Energy shall conduct evaluations 
and arrange for tests and demonstrations to support the projects and 
other efforts conducted under this section.
    ``(e) Consultation.--The Secretary of Energy shall consult with the 
Administrator, the Director of the National Institute for Standards and 
Technology, and the Director of the National Science Foundation in 
carrying out this section.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1999.

``SEC. 4012. AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING.

    ``(a) Comprehensive Automobile Recycling Plan.--
            ``(1) Initial plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of the Recycling Research and Development Act 
        of 1993, the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of 
        Conservation and Renewable Energy, shall prepare and transmit 
        to the Congress a comprehensive automobile recycling plan that 
        includes--
                    ``(A) research priorities critical to improved 
                automobile recycling;
                    ``(B) identification of ongoing research in 
                industry, academia, and the Federal Government, 
                including research efforts carried out at the National 
                Laboratories;
                    ``(C) strategies for the cooperative program 
                established under subsection (b), including technical 
                milestones to be achieved toward specific goals during 
                each fiscal year, for all major Federal activities and 
                projects under the program;
                    ``(D) coordination by the Secretary of Energy of 
                ongoing research projects under the program established 
                under subsection (b), including associated or related 
                activities such as materials research.
            ``(2) Updated plans.--The Secretary of Energy shall update 
        and submit to the Congress the plan prepared under paragraph 
        (1) whenever the Secretary proposes significant changes to the 
        plan.
    ``(b) Cooperative Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
        establish a cooperative program with the automobile and 
        automobile parts manufacturing industry, the automobile 
        dismantling and recycling industry, the plastics industry, and 
        other appropriate persons and industries to conduct joint and 
        cooperative automobile recycling technology research and 
        development projects, including research--
                    ``(A) to determine obstacles to increased recycling 
                of automobile components and strategies to overcome 
                those obstacles;
                    ``(B) to determine methods for incorporating 
                recyclability into the planning, design, and 
                manufacture of new automobiles and the effect of such 
                methods on the volume and toxicity of manufacturing 
                waste produced;
                    ``(C) to develop methods for engineering more 
                easily recyclable plastics for use in automobiles;
                    ``(D) to develop new technologies for the recycling 
                of automotive shredder residue;
                    ``(E) to develop environmentally preferable 
                substitutes for toxic and nonrecyclable materials used 
                in automobiles; and
                    ``(F) to review automobile and automobile 
                components and parts recycling efforts and promote 
                public awareness of these efforts.
            ``(2) Requests for proposals.--The Secretary of Energy 
        shall, not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment 
        of the Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993, solicit 
        proposals to conduct the projects described in paragraph (1) 
        and may, after such solicitation, enter into agreements to 
        conduct such projects. As part of a solicitation under this 
        paragraph, the Secretary of Energy may propose specific joint 
        and cooperative projects.
            ``(3) Federal funding.--The Secretary of Energy may provide 
        financial assistance for a project conducted under this 
        subsection in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the 
        total cost of the project.
    ``(d) Support.--The Secretary of Energy shall conduct evaluations 
and arrange for tests and demonstrations to support the projects and 
other efforts conducted under this subsection.
    ``(e) Consultation.--The Secretary of Energy shall consult with the 
Administrator, the Director of the National Institute for Standards and 
Technology, and the Director of the National Science Foundation in 
carrying out this section.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1999.

``SEC. 4013. APPLIANCE RECYCLING.

    ``(a) Comprehensive Appliance Recycling Plan.--
            ``(1) Initial plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of the Recycling Research and Development Act 
        of 1993, the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of 
        Conservation and Renewable Energy, shall prepare and transmit 
        to the Congress a comprehensive appliance recycling plan that 
        includes--
                    ``(A) research priorities critical to improved 
                appliance recycling;
                    ``(B) identification of ongoing research in 
                industry, academia, and the Federal Government, 
                including research efforts carried out at the National 
                Laboratories;
                    ``(C) strategies for the cooperative program 
                established under subsection (b), including technical 
                milestones to be achieved toward specific goals during 
                each fiscal year, for all major Federal activities and 
                projects under the program; and
                    ``(D) coordination by the Secretary of Energy of 
                ongoing research projects under the program established 
                under subsection (b), including associated or related 
                activities such as materials research.
            ``(2) Updated plans.--The Secretary of Energy shall update 
        and submit to the Congress the plan prepared under paragraph 
        (1) whenever the Secretary proposed significant changes to the 
        plan.
    ``(b) Cooperative Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
        establish a cooperative program with the appliance 
        manufacturing industry, the appliance dismantling and recycling 
        industry, the steel industry, the plastics industry, and other 
        appropriate persons and industries to conduct joint and 
        cooperative appliance recycling technology research and 
        development projects, including research--
                    ``(A) to determine obstacles to increased recycling 
                of appliances and strategies to overcome those 
                obstacles;
                    ``(B) to determine methods for incorporating 
                recyclability into the planning, design, and 
                manufacture of new appliances and the effect of such 
                methods on the volume and toxicity of manufacturing 
                waste produced;
                    ``(C) to develop methods for engineering more 
                easily recyclable plastics for use in appliances;
                    ``(D) to develop new technologies for the recycling 
                of appliance shredder residue;
                    ``(E) to develop environmentally preferable 
                substitutes for toxic and nonrecyclable materials used 
                in appliances; and
                    ``(F) to review appliance recycling efforts and 
                promote public awareness of these efforts.
            ``(2) Requests for proposals.--The Secretary of Energy 
        shall, not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment 
        of the Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993, solicit 
        proposals to conduct the projects described in paragraph (1) 
        and may, after such solicitation, enter into agreements to 
        conduct such projects. As part of a solicitation under this 
        paragraph, the Secretary of Energy may propose specific joint 
        and cooperative projects.
            ``(3) Federal funding.--The Secretary of Energy may provide 
        financial assistance for a project conducted under this 
        subsection in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the 
        total cost of the project.
    ``(d) Support.--The Secretary of Energy shall conduct evaluations 
and arrange for tests and demonstrations to support the projects and 
other efforts conducted under this section.
    ``(e) Consultation.--The Secretary of Energy shall consult with the 
Administrator, the Director of the National Institute for Standards and 
Technology, and the Director of the National Science Foundation in 
carrying out this section.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1999.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents for 
subtitle D of such Act (contained in section 1001) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new items:

``Sec. 4011. Plastics recycling.
``Sec. 4012. Automobile recycling.
``Sec. 4013. Appliance recycling.''.