A bill to create national standards for labeling of covered materials as recyclable, compostable, reusable, and refillable, and for other purposes.

S. 5302 would establish national standards for how manufacturers and retailers label products and packaging as "recyclable," "compostable," "reusable," or "refillable." Beyond that, the specific criteria, definitions, and enforcement mechanisms the bill would use are not yet available, since its full text has not been published.

Because the bill targets labeling claims on consumer goods and packaging, it would likely affect manufacturers, packagers, and retailers who use these terms on their products, as well as consumers who rely on such labels to make purchasing or disposal decisions. The exact scope of "covered materials" and which entities would face new requirements cannot be determined until the text is released.

The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 6, 2026, by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and is the only recorded action so far. As a newly introduced bill in the 119th Congress, it would typically next be referred to a Senate committee for review; further action such as committee votes, amendments, or floor consideration would depend on decisions not yet made public. No other legislative steps have occurred at this time.

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