CHEMICAL RECYCLING | USA
critical piece of the supply side challenge in helping to expand access, collection and fund the necessary outreach to maximize community recycling programs. The proposal also does not create monopolies nor disintermediate communi- ties and waste management companies from the citizens they serve.
Above: Advanced recycling deals with the
challenge of mixed plastics waste
agency to incorporate advanced plastics recycling, particularly as it relates to the need for new markets for more types of recycled plastic products.
State policy Regulations: Many states have outdated policies that could treat advanced recycling as waste disposal instead of manufacturing. This regulatory uncertainty increases a company’s compliance costs, makes it harder to line up feedstocks and offtake agreements, secure sites, and line up investors – all delaying the deployment of ad- vanced recycling technologies. Responding to widespread desire to increase
plastics recycling, legislatures in twelve states have rectified this situation by passing laws recognizing advanced technologies as manufacturing technolo- gies that can contribute to recycling more plastics in their states. These modernized regulatory frameworks will help reduce plastic waste, enhance operational certainty, and enable greater adoption of advanced recycling. These laws also will help create new local demand for recycling programs and recycling centers that will turn post-use plastics currently destined for landfills into valuable new materials.
Producer responsibility: Not dissimilar to ap- proaches in Europe and Canada, multiple states are looking to pass some form of “producer responsibility” legislation, looking to shift some of the costs of managing various post-use materials onto entities that sell packaging and products. Legislative proposals range broadly and ACC recently announced its support for a “uniquely American” form of producer responsibility along with seventeen other organizations including representatives of the glass, aluminum and steel industries as well as seven global brands. We see product stewardship via fees on packaging as a
18 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | May/June 2021
Policy considerations At all policy levels, plastic makers are advocating policies that fully consider both supply and demand for recycled plastics. Our Roadmap to Reuse lays out the priorities and policies that we believe will help reach our 2040 goal. On the supply side these policies could include a comprehensive federal approach to recycling outreach, minimum standards and data gathering. Coupled with packaging fees that help finance collection and access infrastructure along with community outreach will help grow the supply of plastics for recycling. On the demand side, policies such as recognition of advanced recycling as recycling and essential to meeting national goals and requiring minimum recycled plastics in packag- ing via both mechanical and advanced recycling could help accelerate the deployment of advanced plastics recycling technologies. Multiple approach- es will be necessary to succeed and investments still need to be made to more cost effectively collect, sort, and pre-process the harder-to-recycle plastics into feedstocks for advanced recycling.
Looking ahead
Sound public policy will play an increasingly important role in the growth and success of advanced plastics recycling. Concerns over climate change and plastic waste issues are rising, and policy makers are looking for solutions. Plastics play an incredibly important role in helping to prevent food waste, spoilage and breakage and reduce energy use from the transportation and shipping of goods. This is critical to help lower greenhouse gas emissions. Coupled with ad- vanced recycling after use, we can reduce green- house gas emissions while creating a more circular economy for plastics. Finally, connecting with policymakers to explain
what advanced recycling is and how it works is key. Succeeding requires not only collaboration across the plastics value chain, but it also requires policy- makers who support smart policies that position these technologies for growth… policies that can help drive both supply and demand and help end plastic waste. �
www.americanchemistry.com
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: MESSE DÜSSELDORF/CTILLMANN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
