Texans for Clean Water Takes the Fight for Smarter Recycling to Capitol Hill

The Texans for Clean Water team traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders and build momentum behind a smarter, more strategic approach to recycling policy—one rooted in conservation, accountability, and domestic economic strength.

During our time in the nation’s capital, we had the opportunity to have productive discussions with the Texas delegation about the benefits of recycling. These conversations focused on how thoughtful, state-led recycling policies—like Texas’s proposed deposit return system—can reduce litter, conserve water, and strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical manufacturing materials like aluminum, PET plastic, and glass.

We emphasized that this isn’t just about cleaning up our rivers, highways, and public spaces—though it certainly does that. It’s also about ensuring U.S. manufacturers have access to clean, domestically collected materials at a time when international supply chains are increasingly strained and tariffs are on the rise. Texans for Clean Water believes that a modernized, market-driven approach to recycling can deliver real wins for both the environment and the economy.

By promoting deposit recycling systems and advocating for performance-based incentives at the federal level, we’re working to create a blueprint that empowers states while aligning with national priorities. We’re grateful to our congressional partners for taking the time to listen, and we look forward to continuing the conversation in the months ahead.

Together, we can build a cleaner, more resilient future—starting with smarter policy.