Issue Brief: Advanced Recycling
Plastics Recycling - Chemical Recycling
“Advanced Recycling”
Overview:
Advanced recycling/Chemical Recycling refers to processes generally including pyrolysis and gasification, which are used to break down plastic polymers, allowing the materials to be reused in a variety of ways. In these processes, the chemical building blocks that make up the recycled plastic are recovered.
What is driving this market? In recent years, foreign markets began refusing or limiting the importation of certain recyclables, most notably China in 2018, which banned the importation of plastics.
This has created an incentive for states to look for new ways to deal with their backlog of plastic waste, and may, therefore, find this technology attractive.
What is the environmental impact? As states address climate change concerns through decarbonization initiatives, it has begun to impact the use of petrochemicals (oil, gas) for fuel, and chemical companies are now looking for ways to increase the use of petrochemicals for plastics. But any new technology that relies on continued or increasing plastics production only adds to our climate burden and increases the production of toxics.
Who is pushing this technology? The American Chemistry Council has been one of the primary drivers for Advanced Recycling. They produced a report in 2017 that claimed these facilities produce fewer emissions compared to other common sources of air pollution.
Legislation:
The American Chemistry Council has been promoting “Advanced Recycling” legislation, that typically consists of changing the classification of this technology to be regulated as a manufacturing process, rather than a solid waste process.
During the 2021 legislative session, Rep. Adam Bowling proposed HB 345 - AN ACT relating to resource recovery.
Would amend KRS 224.1-010 to change the definitions for "disposal," "municipal solid waste disposal facility," "waste site or facility," "waste," "hazardous waste," and "solid waste management facility,"; add definitions for "advanced recycling," "advanced recycling facility," "depolymerization," "gasification," "post-use polymer," "pyrolysis," "recovered feedstock," and "solvolysis"; amend KRS 109.012 to change the definitions for "solid waste," "solid waste management," and "solid waste management facility."
The bill did not pass, however it is clear that lawmakers will continue to explore laws to expand this industry.
There are basically three types of laws that states have proposed and/or enacted around this technology:
Reclassification: Reclassifies post-use polymers as non-solid waste IF used in pyrolysis or gasification
Exemption: Exempts pyrolysis and gasification facilities from being regulated as solid waste facilities
Exclusion: Excludes pyrolysis and gasification from the definition of recycling.
These bills primarily being promoted by the American Chemistry Council would change the regulatory framework in ways that would reduce checks and balances.
Solutions:
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Resources:
“All Talk, No Recycling"- An Investigation of the U.S. “Chemical Recycling” Industry.
