Document ID: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0933-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map; Request for Public Comment
Posted Date: 2023-05-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30739-30740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10152]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0933; FRL-10955-01-OLEM]

Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map; Request 
for Public Comment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed an 
interactive map of recycling markets that highlights existing recycling 
infrastructure, per capita generation and recycling of post-consumer 
materials, and other relevant market factors. The map visually presents 
data estimates across various phases of the recycling process, 
including generation, collection, sortation, and end use. Through this 
document, the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) is 
soliciting public comments on the accuracy and completeness of the 
data, ease of use, graphics, and recommendations on future updates of 
the map. EPA will collect and analyze the public comments to use as 
inputs for the next update of the map.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OLEM-2022-0933, using the following method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Doppelt, Office of Resource 
Conservation and Recovery, Office of Land and Emergency Management 
(Mail Code 5101T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue

[[Page 30740]]

NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-0283; email 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Response to this request for public comment is voluntary. Submit 
your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0933, at 
https://www.regulations.gov/. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited 
or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to 
its public docket. Responses to this request for public comment may be 
submitted by a single party or a team. Responses will only be accepted 
using Microsoft Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF (.pdf) file formats. The 
response document should contain the following:
     Two clearly delineated sections: (1) Cover page with 
company name and contact information; and (2) responses should indicate 
which topic and specific questions are being addressed.
     1-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
     Times New Roman and 12-point font.
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or 
electronic links of the referenced materials. Do not submit to EPA's 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov/ any information you consider to 
be Confidential Business Information (CBI), Proprietary Business 
Information (PBI), or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 
accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the 
official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish 
to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment 
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, 
cloud, or other file sharing system). Please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets for additional submission methods; the 
full EPA public comment policy; information about CBI, PBI, or 
multimedia submissions; and general guidance on making effective 
comments.
    Privacy note: All comments received from members of the public will 
be available for public viewing on Regulations.gov. In accordance with 
Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.202(3), responses to this document 
are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Federal Government to form 
a binding contract. Additionally, those submitting responses are solely 
responsible for all expenses associated with response preparation.

II. General Information

What is the purpose of this request for public comment?

    EPA has developed an interactive map of recycling markets that 
highlights existing recycling infrastructure, per capita generation and 
recycling of post-consumer materials, and other relevant market 
factors. By providing a comprehensive resource for understanding 
opportunities related to post-consumer materials management, this map 
can help develop and strengthen primary and secondary markets for 
materials, support cleaner communities by reducing the amount of 
plastic and other waste entering landfills and the marine environment, 
and provide opportunities to address climate change by diverting more 
materials from landfills. The map visually presents data estimates 
across various phases of the recycling process, including generation, 
collection, sortation, and end use. This new resource supports 
implementation of the National Recycling Strategy (https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy), the Save our Seas 2.0 Act, and the Solid Waste 
Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program funded by the 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL (https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure).
    Using publicly available information, EPA populated the map with 
the locations of 15 different types of recycling and other municipal 
solid waste (MSW) infrastructure, such as material recovery facilities, 
anaerobic digesters, composting facilities, glass recycling facilities, 
MSW landfills, and transfer stations. Using publicly available data 
from the Ball Corporation, U.S. Census Bureau's American County Survey, 
EPA tools including the State Measurement Program and Wasted Food 
Report, and materials management reports from states and regions, the 
map also displays 16 types of recyclable material generated and 
recycled per U.S. zip code, including aluminum, cardboard, electronics, 
food waste, glass, paper, plastics #1-7, steel cans, tires, textiles, 
yard trimmings, and wood.
    The map also includes specific, publicly available information 
about facilities in the recycling system, including facility names, 
addresses, counties, phone numbers, emails, websites, North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, infrastructure types, and 
feedstocks for each facility, where available.
    EPA is soliciting public comments on the accuracy and completeness 
of the data, ease of use, graphics, and recommendations on future 
updates of the map. EPA will analyze the public comments to use as 
inputs for the next update of the tool. The specific public comment 
questions are:
1. Accuracy and Completeness of the Data
     Do the data reflect recycling infrastructure, end markets 
and market factors in your location accurately?
     Are the recycled materials tonnage estimations consistent 
with your knowledge of your geographical area?
     Are there any missing facilities, end markets, or other 
layers within the scope of this map that EPA should add?
2. Ease of Use
     Does the structure of the map features, layers, and 
overlays make sense?
     Is the interface intuitive? How easy or difficult is it to 
navigate the various icons and features?
     Are the underlying datasets easy to access and download?
3. Graphics
     Is the map visually accessible, particularly with multiple 
icons and layers turned on?
     Do you have any recommendations on improving the 
visualization of the key features?
4. Future Updates
     What additional infrastructure, layers, or tools would you 
want to see in version 2.0 of this map?
    If you have questions regarding this action, consult the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.

    Dated: May 5, 2023.
Carolyn Hoskinson,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2023-10152 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P