The Congressional language “encourages” EPA to take into account the environmental impacts of chemical recycling during an ongoing rule-making process by the agency.
Lawmakers say chemical recycling plastics contribute to climate change, perpetuates environmental injustice and does not advance a circular economy.
Jay Schabel, president of the plastics division at Brightmark, holds plastic pellets in his hand the company’s new chemical recycling plant in northeast Indiana at the end of July. The pellets are made from plastic waste and sent into chemical processing equipment to make diesel fuel, naphtha, and wax.
In a report tied to the massive $1.7 trillion federal budget bill signed last week by President, Congress has signaled to the Environmental Protection Agency that it should not loosen regulations around the chemical recycling of plastic waste.
The advice from lawmakers was included in wording in a House Appropriations Committee report on the federal budget urging the EPA to continue to regulate chemical recycling as incineration with its stricter clean air requirements. It was not in the budget bill itself.
The Congressional language “encourages” EPA to take into account the environmental impacts of chemical recycling during an ongoing rule-making process by the agency.
While not having the force of law, such report language can help document the omnibus budget bill’s legislative history, help people and courts interpret Congress’ intent, and may send a message, experts said this week.
“This is sending a very clear message to the administration, to the EPA, to industry, saying chemical recycling is not recycling,” said Anja Brandon, associate director for U.S. plastics policy with the Ocean Conservancy, an environmental group that worked with Rep.
Jared Huffman, D-California, to secure the language in the report. “These technologies emit dangerous greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals while enabling industry to continue unfettered plastics production.”
The process of chemical recycling plastic can have negative environmental impacts, including contributing to climate change. This is because the process often involves the use of fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases when burned.
Additionally, chemical recycling plants can release harmful pollutants into the air if they are not properly designed and operated.
Originally Published at Inside Climate News