ZERO WASTE Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2021

Zeroing Excess, Reducing Organic Waste, And Sustaining Technical Expertise Act or the ZERO WASTE Act

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish grant programs for reducing waste.

Specifically, the EPA must establish a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations and state, local, and tribal governments for projects that utilize specified zero-waste practices. Zero-waste means the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without (1) burning or otherwise destroying embodied energy; and (2) a discharge to land, water, or air that results in adverse human health or environmental effects.

In addition, the EPA must establish a program to award grants for developing and implementing new requirements that reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] · D–MN

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
Mar 19, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 19, 2021
Introduced in House
Mar 19, 2021
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Mar 19, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1512 · CLEAN Future Act

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2101 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.2101, 117th Congress: ZERO WASTE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2101

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2101/BILLS-117hr2101ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:04:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2101 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2101 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.2101, 117th Congress: ZERO WASTE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2101

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2101/BILLS-117hr2101ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:04:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2101 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2101 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2101, 117th Congress: ZERO WASTE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2101

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2101/BILLS-117hr2101ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:04:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2101 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2101 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2101, 117th Congress: ZERO WASTE Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2101

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2021-03-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2101/BILLS-117hr2101ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:04:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2101 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.