I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6053 
To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to reduce the production and use 
of certain single-use plastic products and packaging, to improve the 
responsibility of producers in the design, collection, reuse, recycling, 
and disposal of consumer products and packaging, to prevent pollution 
from consumer products and packaging from entering into animal and 
human food chains and waterways, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. CARBAJAL, Ms. CHU, Ms. 
CLARKE of New York, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. DESAULNIER, 
Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. MCCLELLAN, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. MENG, Mr. 
MORELLE, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. 
PORTER, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, 
Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. TRONE, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. SCHIFF, 
Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. WILSON of Florida, 
Mr. LYNCH, Mr. THANEDAR, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. 
GOMEZ, Mr. CARSON, Mr. LIEU, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BOW-
MAN, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, and Ms. HOYLE of Oregon) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infra-
structure, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to reduce the pro-
duction and use of certain single-use plastic products 
and packaging, to improve the responsibility of producers 
in the design, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
of consumer products and packaging, to prevent pollution 
from consumer products and packaging from entering 
into animal and human food chains and waterways, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—EXTENDED RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEVERAGE 
CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING 
Sec. 101. Extended responsibility for beverage containers and packaging. 
TITLE II—PROTECTING COMMUNITIES FROM PLASTICS 
Sec. 201. Short title. 
Sec. 202. Findings. 
Sec. 203. Definitions. 
Sec. 204. Environmental justice protections at covered facilities. 
Sec. 205. Microplastics research and directives. 
Sec. 206. Reducing single-use plastics in agriculture. 
TITLE III—PLASTIC PELLET-FREE WATERS 
Sec. 301. Effluent limitations for wastewater, spills, and runoff from plastic 
polymer production facilities, plastic molding and forming fa-
cilities, and other point sources associated with the transport 
and packaging of plastic pellets or other preproduction plastic 
materials. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
TITLE I—EXTENDED RESPONSI-
BILITY FOR BEVERAGE CON-
TAINERS AND PACKAGING 
SEC. 101. EXTENDED RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEVERAGE 
CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 
U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘Subtitle 
K—Extended 
Responsi-
bility for Beverage Containers 
and Packaging 
‘‘SEC. 12001. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘advi-
sory committee’ means an advisory committee estab-
lished by the Administrator under section 12106(a). 
‘‘(2) BEVERAGE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘beverage’ 
means any drinkable liquid intended for human 
oral consumption, including— 
‘‘(i) water; 
‘‘(ii) flavored water; 
‘‘(iii) soda water; 
‘‘(iv) mineral water; 
‘‘(v) beer; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(vi) a malt beverage; 
‘‘(vii) a carbonated soft drink; 
‘‘(viii) liquor; 
‘‘(ix) tea; 
‘‘(x) coffee; 
‘‘(xi) hard cider; 
‘‘(xii) fruit juice; 
‘‘(xiii) an energy or sports drink; 
‘‘(xiv) coconut water; 
‘‘(xv) wine; 
‘‘(xvi) a yogurt drink; 
‘‘(xvii) a probiotic drink; 
‘‘(xviii) a wine cooler; and 
‘‘(xix) any other beverage determined 
to be appropriate by the Administrator. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘beverage’ 
does not include— 
‘‘(i) a drug regulated under the Fed-
eral Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
U.S.C. 301 et seq.); 
‘‘(ii) infant formula; or 
‘‘(iii) a meal replacement liquid. 
‘‘(3) BEVERAGE CONTAINER.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘beverage 
container’ means a prepackaged container 
that— 
‘‘(i) is designed to hold a beverage; 
‘‘(ii) is made of any material, includ-
ing glass, plastic, and metal; and 
‘‘(iii) has a volume of not more than 
3 liters. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘beverage 
container’ does not include— 
‘‘(i) a carton; 
‘‘(ii) a pouch; or 
‘‘(iii) aseptic packaging, such as a 
drink box. 
‘‘(4) BRAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘brand’ 
means any mark, word, name, symbol, design, 
device, or graphic element that— 
‘‘(i) identifies a product; and 
‘‘(ii) distinguishes the product from 
other products. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘brand’ in-
cludes— 
‘‘(i) any combination of 2 or more 
marks, words, names, symbols, designs, de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
vices, or graphic elements described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) any registered or unregistered 
trademark. 
‘‘(5) COMPOSTABLE.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
term 
‘compostable’, with respect to a covered product 
described in subparagraph (B), means that the 
covered product— 
‘‘(i)(I) meets the ASTM International 
standard specification for compostable 
products numbered D6400 or D6868— 
‘‘(aa) as in effect on the date of 
enactment of this subtitle; or 
‘‘(bb) as revised after the date of 
enactment of this subtitle, if the revi-
sion is approved by the Administrator; 
and 
‘‘(II) is labeled to reflect that the cov-
ered product meets a standard described in 
subclause (I); 
‘‘(ii) is certified as a compostable 
product by an independent third party that 
is approved by the Administrator; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(iii) comprises only wood or natural 
fiber, without any— 
‘‘(I) coating; 
‘‘(II) additive; or 
‘‘(III) effective beginning on Feb-
ruary 1, 2025, toxic substance. 
‘‘(B) DESCRIPTION
OF
COVERED
PROD-
UCTS.—The covered products referred to in 
subparagraph (A) are covered products other 
than— 
‘‘(i) paper; and 
‘‘(ii) effective beginning on February 
1, 2025, a covered product that contains a 
toxic substance. 
‘‘(6) COVERED PRODUCT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘covered 
product’, 
regardless 
of 
recyclability, 
compostability, or material type, means— 
‘‘(i) packaging; 
‘‘(ii) a food service product; 
‘‘(iii) paper; and 
‘‘(iv) a single-use product that is not 
subject to a prohibition under section 
12202 or 12203. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘covered 
product’ does not include— 
‘‘(i) a beverage container; or 
‘‘(ii) any product subject to an ex-
tended responsibility program at the State 
level, as determined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(7) ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.—The term 
‘environmental justice’ means the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all individuals, regardless 
of race, color, national origin, educational level, or 
income, with respect to the development, implemen-
tation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regu-
lations, and policies to ensure that— 
‘‘(A) full access to public information and 
opportunities for meaningful public participa-
tion with respect to human health and environ-
mental planning, regulations, and enforcement 
is provided to each census tract and census 
block group— 
‘‘(i) the percentage of population of 
people of color of which is not less than the 
average percentage of population of people 
of color in the State in which the tract or 
block group is located; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:52 Oct 28, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6053.IH
H6053
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB