Merkley, Correa Launch New Effort to Fix Misleading Recycling Labels

Truth in Labeling Act Aims to Restore Consumers' Confidence in Packaging

Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced their new Truth in Labeling Act of 2026. The bicameral legislation would establish clear federal guidelines for labeling consumer products that are recyclable, compostable, reusable, or refillable.

"Most of us have been taught the three Rs-reduce, reuse, and recycle; but too often the reality with plastics is the three Bs-buried, burned, and borne out to sea," said Merkley. "Consumers want to recycle and compost. Our Truth in Labeling Act will make that easier by requiring companies to accurately label their products as recyclable, compostable, or reusable. This is a win-win-win for consumers, waste management systems, and our environment."

"People shouldn't have to question whether something belongs in the recycling bin or the trash," said Correa. "Clear, consistent labeling helps consumers make informed choices while reducing contamination that makes recycling more expensive and less effective. This bill brings common-sense standards to product labeling, strengthens our recycling system, and gives Americans the information they need to do their part in reducing waste and protecting our environment."

The Truth in Labeling Act responds to increasing confusion about the 'chasing arrows' on consumer products and outdated federal guidance on environmental marketing claims. The bill would establish a voluntary label for manufacturers to use if they wish to direct consumers to recycle, compost, or reuse their packaging. Not only will clear labels help consumers make informed choices, but they will also strengthen our recycling system and help re-establish consumer trust in environmental marketing claims.

Merkley has been a longtime leader in Congress fighting to address the plastic pollution crisis. As former Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) subcommittee overseeing environmental justice, chemical safety, and waste management, he held a first-of-its-kind series of hearings investigating plastic production and pollution. Merkley's hearings examined: environmental and climate damage from plastics, impacts of plastics on environmental justice communities, reuse and refill systems, beverage container waste, and consumer challenges to recycling.

Merkley also leads the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act-the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the harms of plastic pollution on our air, water, and soil-and two bipartisan plastics-related pieces of legislation: the Microplastics Safety Act and REUSE Act.

See what organizations across the nation are saying about the need for improved recycling, composting, and reuse labels:

"To tackle the ocean plastic pollution crisis, Americans need clear, accurate information - not greenwashing - and we have to start with the truth about what's recyclable, and what isn't. The status quo of confusing and misleading recyclability claims prevents our recycling system from living up to its potential. The Truth in Labeling Act will give consumers that clarity, and we applaud Senator Merkley and Representative Correa for their tireless work to deliver these much-needed improvements," said Dr. Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy.

"Our members who process organic materials at their facilities need clean, uncontaminated material to make sure we can produce quality compost for U.S. soil health," said Linda Norris-Waldt, Executive Director of the US Composting Council. "Passage of national legislation such as this will make it easier for communities and businesses to educate their consumers to put the right material for composting into the compost bin, making a win for everyone."

"Just Zero strongly supports the Truth in Labeling Act. For decades, the plastics industry has used the chasing-arrows symbol to sell a false promise: that plastic will be recycled if consumers put it in the right bin. In reality, the symbol has helped companies maintain the illusion of plastic recycling while avoiding responsibility for the waste they create. This legislation will help end that deception. If packaging is not collected, processed, and recycled at scale, companies should not be allowed to call it recyclable. Consumers deserve labels they can trust-not greenwashing," said Peter Blair, Policy and Advocacy Director, Just Zero.

"Recology employee-owners process more than 1.6 million tons of recyclable and compostable materials each year, giving us a firsthand view of the impacts that misleading recyclability and compostability claims have on sort lines, composting operations, and the quality of recovered materials. The Truth in Labeling Act will help create a stronger national standard for environmental labeling and better align product claims with the realities of our nation's recycling and composting infrastructure," said Sal Coniglio, CEO of Recology.

"The Truth in Labeling Act is a strong step towards a national labeling standard that accurately reflects market realities. As the reusable packaging and foodware sectors continue to expand, consistent guidance and national standards will be foundational to building a robust and enduring reuse economy that is trusted by all consumers," said Sydney Harris, Policy Director, Upstream Solutions.

"Consumer confidence in recycling is falling, and on-pack labeling can help consumers make the right choice when it comes to being part of an effective recycling system, but labeling is only one piece. A truly effective recycling system requires five things: packaging is designed to be recycled; communities have access; constituents are effectively engaged; materials are properly sorted and processed; and end markets turn old material into new products, demanding recycled content for recycled content products," said Anthony Tusino, Senior Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs for The Recycling Partnership. "The legislation from Senator Merkley and Representative Correa is a step in the right direction to ensure packaging claims reflect reality. We look forward to working with Congress to get the U.S. to meet all five requirements of an effective recycling system."

"Practical product and packaging design should consider recyclability, and recyclability claims must reflect, and evolve with, how materials are actually collected, processed, and returned to manufacturing. As such, ReMA is encouraged to see the Truth in Labeling Act include industry-developed guidance, including ReMA's Fiber Recycling Readiness Tool. We thank Senator Merkley and Representative Correa for their continued leadership on recycling and look forward to working with them and other stakeholders to ensure that any national framework remains grounded in how the recycling system operates and can adapt as that system continues to advance," said Kristen Hildreth, VP Public Policy and Government Relations, Recycled Materials Association.

"The Paper Recycling Coalition thanks Senator Merkley, Representative Correa, and their staff for their thoughtful engagement and real partnership throughout this process. We share their commitment to honest labeling and to protecting consumer trust in recycling, and we especially appreciate the bill's clear line that fuel and energy recovery are not recycling. We look forward to working together on these issues in the future," said Terese Colling, President, Paper Recycling Coalition.

Full text of the Truth in Labeling Act can be found by clicking here.

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