Bipartisan legislation on plastics recycling was recently introduced in Congress, and I hope it provides the kickstart we need to boost recycling rates. This legislation also offers a way forward for negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic pollution later this year.
Legislation on Plastics Recycling Introduced
On September 19, Congressmen Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Don Davis (D-NC) introduced ambitious legislation aimed at increasing plastics recycling and preventing plastics from ending up in our environment.
The “Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act of 2024” is the first comprehensive bipartisan effort by Congress in years to tackle plastic pollution in the United States. By modernizing the nation’s outdated recycling infrastructure, this bill will increase recycling and the use of recycled materials in new products.
The legislation would:
- Establish national plastics recycling standards instead of relying on today’s 9,000+ jurisdictions with conflicting recycling practices. This could help significantly improve recycling rates.
- Require at least 30% recycled content in plastic packaging in the United States by 2030. This would drive investment, jobs and demand for more sustainable, “circular” packaging. And it likely would double the plastic packaging recycling rate by 2030.
- Direct the National Academy of Sciences to compare the environmental impacts of plastics and alternative materials. The results would guide future policy choices and clarify the tradeoffs inherent in making and using various materials.
- Establish a legal framework for innovative, new recycling technologies. Regulatory certainty would stimulate innovation and help develop new recycling technologies.
More recycling. More recycled content. More jobs. Less pollution.
Our Nation’s Recycling System Needs a Makeover
Our nation’s primary law governing recycling was passed during the Ford Administration. Obviously, a few things have changed since then. Our nation’s recycling systems and policies have not kept up. We need an update.
Recycling systems in the 1970s were created to collect mostly bottles, cans, and newspapers. Over time, lighter weight materials like plastic pouches and wraps became more popular, especially for packaging. This new, more efficient packaging is great at reducing the amount of packaging needed to deliver food and drink. It also helps reduce food waste, requires less energy than heavier packaging, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to common alternatives.
These more efficient materials don’t really fit the old recycling system, which is one of the many reasons why our nation’s recycling rate dangles under 35%. (And the plastic packaging recycling rate is less than half that.)
If enacted, the Bucshon-Davis legislation would transform plastics recycling in the U.S. It offers a pathway for the drastic changes needed to modernize America’s recycling infrastructure.
As the co-sponsors put it:
Congressman Bucshon: “[The bill] will help us do better by modernizing our recycling infrastructure to harness innovative technologies and recycle greater amounts of plastic waste…”
Congressman Davis: “We must tackle the accumulation of plastic waste in our landfills and work towards creating cleaner, more sustainable communities.”
A Path Forward for the Global Agreement
The Bucshon-Davis bill can also offer a pathway for domestic action on implementation of the U.N. global agreement to end plastic pollution that’s scheduled to be finalized by the end of the year.
One potential outcome of the agreement is that each country will have to establish a national action plan to eliminate plastic pollution. The Bucshon-Davis bipartisan legislation could provide strong new tools to support a U.S. national action plan under the agreement.
The bill sends a strong signal to the rest of the world that the U.S. is a leader in these efforts, willing to put forward practical and focused solutions toward ending plastic pollution.
Encourage Congress to Support the New Plastics Recycling Bill
Now it’s time to line up support in Congress.
This bill would help us tackle a serious problem with actionable solutions. It’s positive, forward-looking legislation that dispenses with draconian, counter-productive proposals like government-led production caps, resin taxes and bans that have been floated in Congress (and during negotiations on the global agreement).
It’s our nation’s best shot at kickstarting plastics recycling and building a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Let’s all get behind it.