Advanced Recycling Research and Development Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2777 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony (R-OH)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Advanced Recycling Research and Development Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Energy to implement research, development, and demonstration programs to (1) accelerate innovation in energy-efficient recyclable plastics, next-generation plastics, and composites recycling and upcycling strategies and technologies; and (2) support the development of advanced materials for batteries and innovative technologies to reclaim and recycle critical materials from advanced and lithium-based battery technologies used in consumer electronics, defense, stationary storage, and transportation applications.

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish and support advanced 
  recycling research and development programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 ``Advanced Recycling 
Research and Development Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Optimized plastics recycling research and development program.
Sec. 4. Lithium-based battery recycling research and development 
                            program.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (4) Recyclable plastic.--The term ``recyclable plastic'' 
        means plastic that is designed to be readily, economically, and 
        efficiently recyclable or otherwise recoverable for beneficial 
        use.
            (5) Critical material.--The term ``critical material'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 7002 of Division Z of 
        the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
            (6) Composite.--The term ``composite'' means plastic 
        reinforced with fiber or particulate secondary material like 
        bio-derived fibers, carbon fibers, glass or any other solid 
        material.

SEC. 3. OPTIMIZED PLASTICS RECYCLING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a research, 
development, and demonstration program to accelerate innovation in 
energy-efficient recyclable plastics, next-generation plastics, and 
composites recycling and upcycling strategies and technologies, in 
order to increase the economic value of plastics supply streams and to 
reduce the environmental impact of global plastics consumption.
    (b) Execution.--In carrying out the program under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) develop novel collection and sorting technologies to 
        prevent plastics and composites, including waterborne plastics, 
        from entering landfills and the marine environment;
            (2) develop biological, chemical, and hybrid bio-chemical 
        technologies and methods for deconstructing plastic and 
        composite waste into useful chemical and material streams;
            (3) develop technologies to upcycle waste, including 
        chemical, material, and gaseous streams, into higher-value 
        products;
            (4) develop new economically recyclable-by-design plastics 
        and composites that can be scaled for domestic 
        manufacturability and recovery;
            (5) develop new energy-efficient advanced manufacturing 
        techniques for reclaimed plastics and composites; and
            (6) develop new data collection methods and practices in 
        collaboration with relevant Federal agencies and the National 
        Laboratories.
    (c) Leveraging.--In carrying out the program under this section, 
the Secretary shall leverage resources and expertise from--
            (1) the Basic Energy Sciences Program and the Biological 
        and Environmental Research Program of the Office of Science; 
        and
            (2) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
    (d) Standard of Review.--The Secretary shall periodically review 
activities carried out under the program under this section to 
determine the achievement of technical milestones as determined by the 
Secretary.
    (e) Funding.--From within funds authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) to the Department's Office of Science, there shall be 
        made available to the Secretary to carry out the program under 
        this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026; and
            (2) to the Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and 
        Renewable Energy, there shall be made available to the 
        Secretary to carry out the program under this section 
        $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

SEC. 4. LITHIUM-BASED BATTERY RECYCLING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a research, 
development, and demonstration program to support the development of--
            (1) advanced materials for batteries with considerations 
        given to resource availability and environmentally benign 
        disposal and recycling; and
            (2) innovative technologies to reclaim and recycle critical 
        materials from advanced and lithium-based battery technologies 
        used in consumer electronics, defense, stationary storage, and 
        transportation applications.
    (b) Execution.--In carrying out the program under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) promote the discovery of new domestically sourced raw 
        materials for batteries that can degrade without causing damage 
        to the environment;
            (2) develop innovative and cost-effective technologies and 
        processes for the collection, storage, and transportation of 
        discarded lithium-based batteries that prioritize the use of 
        domestic mining resources; and
            (3) research and develop cost-effective recycling processes 
        to recover critical materials from discarded lithium-based 
        batteries and enable their reintroduction in new lithium-based 
        cell technologies and increase availability of domestically 
        sourced raw materials for batteries and for use in other 
        relevant industries.
    (c) Leveraging.--In carrying out the program under this section, 
the Secretary shall leverage resources and expertise from--
            (1) the Basic Energy Sciences Program of the Office of 
        Science;
            (2) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
        including current lithium-based battery recycling activities 
        supported by the Vehicle Technologies Office within the Office 
        of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy;
            (3) the Office of Fossil Energy; and
            (4) the Office of Technology Transitions.
    (d) Standard of Review.--The Secretary shall periodically review 
activities carried out under the program under this section to 
determine the achievement of technical milestones as determined by the 
Secretary.
    (e) Funding.--From within funds authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) to the Department's Office of Science, there shall be 
        made available to the Secretary to carry out the activities 
        under this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
        through 2026;
            (2) to the Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and 
        Renewable Energy, there shall be made available to the 
        Secretary to carry out the activities under this section 
        $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026; and
            (3) to the Department's Office of Fossil Energy, there 
        shall be made available to the Secretary to carry out the 
        activities under this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2022 through 2026.
                                 <all>