The US House Committee on Energy and Commerce is to consider a bill that calls for federal grants for state and local governments to expand kerbside recycling options.

The Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Value of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act would, through a coalition of partners, allocate federal grants to states and municipalities to invest in plant upgrades to enhance material recovery and the ability to process recyclables.

Congressman Tony Cardenas said: “This bipartisan, common-sense bill is a smart solution to a growing problem. This grant would support public-private partnerships and will help communities across the nation to expand and modernise our country’s recycling infrastructure. This bill would create new jobs, boosts our economy and, ultimately, it is good for American families and the environment.”

The bill, which establishes a recycling infrastructure programme within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), puts federal funding towards building new recycling technology and programmes to help increase collection rates, improve the sortation and separation of materials, and enhance the performance of kerbside collection.

Tony Radoszewski, the chief executive of industry association PLASTICS, applauded the bill as an opportunity to educate consumers on the importance of reclaiming valuable materials and repurposing them for greater use.