In a recent blog I made the point:
“There are few more surefire paths to stifle innovation than ambiguous regulations.”
Case in point: advanced recycling of plastics.
Innovative new technologies are poised to help our nation recycle more plastics. A lot more plastics, which could help grow American jobs and contribute billions to our economy. But lack of regulatory clarity has tripped up efforts to deploy these technologies.
A new bill in Congress could change that.
Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), vice-chair and chair of the House Environment Subcommittee, respectively, recently introduced H.R. 6566, the Recycling Technology Innovation Act. The bill would do what it sounds like: modernize recycling of plastics by updating federal law to encourage innovative technologies. Specifically, advanced recycling technologies.
Advanced recycling (sometimes called chemical recycling) converts used plastics back into molecular building blocks that can be remade into new plastics and other products. Advanced recycling helps keep plastics in our economy and out of our environment. Sounds amazing and it is.
BTW: One of these advanced recycling technologies (pyrolysis) has been used for thousands of years and creates multiple materials, such as charcoal, roasted coffee, chemicals, and biofuels. What’s new is the ability to apply this technology to plastics recycling.
But over the years, the Environmental Protection Agency has created uncertainty regarding the use of advanced recycling technologies to recycle plastics.
Companies need regulatory certainty if they’re going to invest in technologies and facilities designed to last for decades. The Recycling Technology Innovation Act would provide that certainty by reaffirming that advanced recycling should be regulated as manufacturing.
Twenty-five states have already passed similar legislation (that’s where companies are deciding to build new advanced recycling facilities). But this leaves us with a patchwork of varying rules and regulations based on state boundaries. Federal legislation would help provide the certainty needed to stimulate private sector investment in advanced recycling facilities, which could help boost plastics recycling in all states.
Aside from numerous environmental benefits, growing plastics recycling can help lift America’s economy. A recent ACC economic analysis found that recycling just 50% of the plastics that currently go to landfills could generate nearly $50 billion in new economic output each year and support 170,000+ new jobs in the U.S. To put that in perspective, $50 billion is about the same as the annual economic input of the milk industry.
On its surface, this bill simply clarifies an old law. But its passage could help lead to a lot more new jobs. Greater economic output. A stronger manufacturing base. Stronger supply chains. And it would be a clear demonstration that we’re serious about American environmental leadership and industrial innovation.
Americans want to recycle more plastics. A simple tweak in how we regulate innovative technologies could help us turn materials we throw away today into new products tomorrow.
Sometimes all that’s needed is a little clarity.
Click here for our news release on the Recycling Technology Innovation Act.
