Auto recyclers from across the United States are on Capitol Hill this week as the Automotive Recyclers Association pushes lawmakers on right-to-repair access, vehicle data control and EV battery regulation.
The 2026 Hill Days event runs May 19 to 21 in Washington, D.C. and includes congressional meetings, advocacy briefings and legislative sessions involving recyclers from across the country.
This year’s lobbying effort comes amid growing pressure surrounding telematics access, recycled-parts usage, environmental regulation and high-voltage EV battery handling.
The association has framed the event around “protecting your right to recycle,” with advocacy priorities tied to salvage access, right-to-repair legislation, manufacturer data access and EV battery policy.
“Whether it’s fighting for fair access to salvage vehicles, defending the right to repair, or establishing responsible policy around EV batteries,” the association stated, “ARA is working every day to protect your ability to operate, grow, and serve your community.”
Participants spent May 20 in advocacy training and congressional meeting preparation sessions before heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff May 21.
The association has not publicly released a list of congressional offices participating in this year’s meetings.
The lobbying push also comes amid continuing tariff pressure affecting North American automotive supply chains, including U.S. measures involving imported vehicles, EV components, steel, aluminum and lithium-ion batteries.
“What’s clear today is that the challenges we’re facing aren’t limited by geography,” said Wally Dingman, executive director of the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association and Automotive Recyclers of Canada, earlier this month during the United Recyclers Group conference in Denver. “Whether you’re in Ontario or operating somewhere across the U.S., we’re dealing with many of the same pressures.”
Trade and repair-access concerns have increasingly converged around vehicle data control and software access as recyclers process growing volumes of software-heavy vehicles containing telematics systems and high-voltage batteries.
The Washington event includes networking sessions and legislative briefings based out of the Yours Truly DC hotel near Capitol Hill, along with a pre-event sailing and networking session in Annapolis.
According to figures released alongside the event, the U.S. automotive recycling sector includes more than 9,000 locations employing roughly 140,000 people and generating more than US$32 billion annually.
