Industry Groups Strongly Opposed 'The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act'

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The specific exclusion of chemical recycling processes in the recently introduced Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act has raised strong opposition from industry groups, mainly from resin producers and chemical recycling operators.

Incidentally, chemical recycling refers to a broad range of processes that break down recovered plastics to the molecular level. Under the bill’s definition, chemical recycling is not considered as true recycling. In addition, the bill is feared to generate new permitting hurdles for chemical recycling facilities. The bill halts permitting of a variety of covered facilities for up to three years.

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According to plastics industry representatives, the chemical recycling regulations would negatively impact on the bill’s stated goal of reducing plastic waste. The act proposes to pause on facilities that uses advanced recycling technologies. Meantime, the sponsors of the bill argued that the pause-and-study period is aimed at better regulating chemical recycling so as to ensure that it is a safe process.

Joshua Baca, vice president of the plastics division of the ACC noted that the prevention of chemical recycling technologies would eliminate tool to recover more plastic waste. Advanced recycling technologies are poised to deliver significant surge in recycling rates over the next decade, he added.