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This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2025. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

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Sustainable Materials Management

  • National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

    On November 21, EPA published the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," which focuses on actions to eliminate the release of plastic pollution into the environment.

  • EPA Celebrates America Recycles Day

    On November 15, EPA recognizes the importance and impact of recycling, which has contributed to American prosperity and the protection of our environment.

    Read about America Recycles Day.

  • New Funding Available

    On September 16, 2024, EPA announced three funding opportunities for recycling and wasted food prevention. Find out more about these opportunities and how to apply:

    • Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program.
    • Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities.
    • Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia.
  • Final National Strategy

    EPA, USDA, and FDA are pleased to announce the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.”

    • Read the press release.

Basics

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  • Basic Information
  • Resources, Waste, and Climate Change

Topics

This is the sustainable materials management graphic showing materials extraction as the first step, manufacturing is the second step, distribution is the third, usage is the fourth, and end-of-life management is the fifth. The most preferred to least preferred end-of-life management are reuse (most preferred), recycle/compost, energy recovery, and landfills (least preferred).
  • Built Environment
  • Electric Arc Furnace Slag
  • Industrial Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials
  • Packaging

Reports and Tools

This is a photo of some generic charts and graphs on top of a laptop keyboard.
  • Recycled-Content Products
  • Recycling Economic Information Report
  • Past SMM Webinars
  • SMM Prioritization Tools
  • Additional SMM Tools

Related Topics

  • Circular Economy
  • Electronics
  • Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste, and Recycling
  • Food
  • International Initiatives
  • Sustainable Management of Plastics 

Related Resources

  • Model Recycling Program Toolkit
  • National Academies report, Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities
  • National Recycling Strategy
  • Success Stories in Reducing Waste
  • Waste Reduction Model

Stay Informed

Sign up for our newsletter "In the Loop with EPA - Circular Economy Updates."

Read previous newsletters.

Contact Us About Sustainable Materials Management to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on November 21, 2024
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