Dive Brief:

• California Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) has introduced legislation that would implement stronger recycling standards.
• The bill would give the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to raise the required amount of recycled materials used in packaging. 
• The measure would also allow the EPA and the Commerce Department to collaborate with the industry to make labels and packaging that provides customers with information about how materials should be recycled. The labels would not be mandated by law. 

Dive Insight:

Honda said that the legislation would help expand the recycling rate across the country. He mentioned that less trash would be dumped into the ocean as a result of the bill. In June, the U.S. State Department announced plans to reduce ocean pollution.