A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CIRCLE Act aims to establish a new recycling property investment credit within the Internal Revenue Code. This credit provides a 30 percent incentive for investments in eligible recycling property placed in service after 2025. The legislation seeks to increase the domestic supply of recycled materials and modernize recycling operations. It also provides a potential 10 percentage point bonus for investments meeting specific domestic content requirements. The credit is designed to phase out gradually between 2033 and 2037.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill promotes recycling infrastructure, which is intended to reduce waste and support a circular economy.
- Scored +4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
By incentivizing recycling, the bill helps achieve national recycling goals and manages solid waste more effectively.
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
The tax credit provides significant financial incentives for businesses investing in recycling infrastructure.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Investment in Infrastructure: The bill establishes a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the qualified investment for eligible property, which is intended to promote recycling by facilitating modernized and upgraded operations. (Section 3(a), Section 2(3))
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Support for Domestic Markets: By creating new recycling infrastructure, the bill aims to help meet the significant demand for domestically sourced recycled material. (Section 2(4))
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Enhanced Competition Protection: The bill seeks to address domestic markets facing increased competition from international actors who may dump virgin materials or unverified recycled content into the United States. (Section 2(5))
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Domestic Content Incentives: Taxpayers can receive an increased credit amount of 10 percentage points if their qualified investment satisfies specific domestic content requirements. (Section 3(a)(3)(A))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Phasing Out of Benefits: The availability of the credit decreases over time, meaning the benefit percentage drops from 100 percent to 0 percent between the years 2026 and 2037. (Section 3(a)(4))
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Restrictions on Recycling Methods: Certain methods of sorting or processing materials are excluded from the definition of "recycle" if they do not preserve original quality or if they involve using materials as fuel, for energy generation, or for incineration. (Section 3(g)(3))
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill promotes recycling infrastructure, which is intended to reduce waste and support a circular economy. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — By incentivizing recycling, the bill helps achieve national recycling goals and manages solid waste more effectively.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The investment in new and existing recycling infrastructure is intended to support local economies and end markets. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill stimulates economic activity through targeted investments in the recycling infrastructure sector.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The tax credit provides significant financial incentives for businesses investing in recycling infrastructure.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal involvement in the economy through new tax credits and industrial incentives.
- 11/9/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/16/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sanford BishopDemocrat · Georgia
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Steven HorsfordDemocrat · Nevada
Jeff HurdRepublican · Colorado
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York