H.R. 7370 – REUSE Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 26, 2026 at 7:36 AM UTC

The REUSE Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator to produce a public report on the feasibility and best practices for reusable and refillable product systems. The report, due within two years, will cover a range of sectors—from food service to consumer goods—and examine how such systems can be scaled, made equitable, and economically viable. It also looks at job‑creation potential, costs for businesses and waste managers, needed government support, and obstacles to implementation. The bill primarily affects the EPA, producers, consumers, and governmental bodies at state and local levels.

Key Provisions

The EPA Administrator must publish a report within two years of the law’s enactment that examines how reusable and refillable product systems could work in various sectors such as food service, consumer goods, cleaning products, personal care items, transportation, and schools.
The report must evaluate different types of reuse and refill models, how they can be scaled, and how to distribute them fairly across communities of different sizes.
It must assess potential job‑creation benefits, the economic costs and advantages for businesses and waste‑management entities, and identify needed federal, state, and local support.
The analysis should also identify barriers to wider adoption and consider examples from U.S. states, local governments, and other countries, consulting with relevant stakeholders.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 4, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 4, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 4, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 4, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7370

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2026

Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Correa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a report on reuse and refill systems, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies Act of 2026 or the REUSE Act of 2026.

2.

Report on reuse and refill systems

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(2)

Reuse and refill system

The term reuse and refill system means a set of mechanisms relating to refillable or reusable products and beverage containers, as determined by the Administrator, that is supported by adequate infrastructure at the producer level, and adequate convenient availability and retail infrastructure at the consumer level, to ensure that the products and beverage containers can be—

(A)

repeatedly recovered, inspected, repaired (if necessary), and reissued by producers into the supply chain for reuse or refill for multiple cycles; and

(B)

conveniently and safely reused or refilled by producers and consumers for multiple cycles.

(3)

State

The term State has the meaning given the term in section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903).

(b)

Report

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall make publicly available a report describing the feasibility of, and best practices relating to, reuse and refill systems for various sectors, as determined by the Administrator, which may include food service, consumer food and beverage products, consumer cleaning products, personal care products, transportation and shipping of wholesale and retail goods, and public educational institutions, including institutions of higher education.

(c)

Objectives

The report under subsection (b) shall include an evaluation and summary of—

(1)

types of reuse and refill systems for product delivery that can be best used at different scales;

(2)

methods to ensure equitable distribution of reuse and refill systems, where economically feasible, for product delivery in communities of varying population size;

(3)

job creation opportunities through the use or expansion of reuse and refill systems;

(4)

economic costs and benefits for—

(A)

businesses that deploy reuse and refill system technologies; and

(B)

parties responsible for waste collection and management;

(5)

types of local, State, and Federal support needed to expand the use of reuse and refill systems; and

(6)

existing barriers to the widespread implementation of reuse and refill systems.

(d)

Considerations

In preparing the report under subsection (b), the Administrator shall—

(1)

take into consideration relevant information relating to reuse and refill system programs and approaches in States, units of local government, and foreign countries; and

(2)

consult with relevant reuse and refill system stakeholders.