In 2021, Eunomia Research & Consulting and Ball Corporation partnered to publish the first comprehensive look at the U.S. recycling system: “The 50 States of Recycling.” The past report was a first-of-its-kind state-by-state comparable assessment of common packaging materials based on 2018 data on generation, recycling and disposal rates. Now updated with 2021 data, this report provides recycling rate figures for packaging materials in each state. It also takes a closer look at the potential benefits of emerging policy by assessing the benefits of modernizing Recycling Refunds (RR) (also known as bottle bills and deposit return systems) in the Northeast and implementing RR alongside Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in both Washington and Colorado. Similar to the first report, this report ranks state recycling rates with and without cardboard, boxboard, paper packaging, plastic films and flexible plastic packaging, referred to as fibers and flexible plastics (FFP). While the recycling of these materials is important, their large volumes — 66% of the total weight of packaging analyzed — mask the performance of other packaging materials. In addition to volume, much of this material comes from the commercial sector for which the data is less accurate. Like the first report, this report provides recycling performance analyses for each state. In addition to current state analysis, this report compares the economic and environmental benefits of the current condition of recycling to an ideal future state that models the outcomes of implementing EPR+RR together in each state. This report will help policymakers and stakeholders from across the supply chain work together to enact well-designed policies and develop efficient and effective programs to enable a strong circular economy that will greatly benefit both the U.S. economy and the planet.