ACC calls for increasing recycling of plastic to 30% by 2030

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced on the 13th a comprehensive five-point plan to accelerate the development of recycling and reduce plastic waste
.

The plan includes what the American Chemistry Council calls "bold steps" to strengthen the regulatory system and rapidly scale up chemical recycling to meet a goal of 30 percent recycled plastic in packaging by 2030
.

Joshua Baca, ACC's vice president of plastics, said: "The time has come to accelerate a circular economy for plastic packaging
.
We need Congress to act on a comprehensive national strategy by engaging the entire plastics value chain - from plastics manufacturers To branded companies to all Americans — to capture the value of plastic waste
.
”

Recommendations for congressional action revolve around a national strategy to encourage a circular economy, divert plastic waste from landfills and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
.

The proposals would require all plastic packaging to include at least 30 percent recycled plastic by 2030, by developing a national standard for recycled plastics, scaling up chemical and mechanical recycling, and even establishing a "Designed in America" ​​system of producer responsibility for plastic packaging
.

“Individual states have independent recommendations for plastic waste and recycling, which include deposit-return programs, minimum recycling content usage, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and adoption of chemical recycling
.
However, the country has so far lacked federal and state Tier 1 unified policy,” said Paula Leardini, senior analyst for plastics recycling for the Americas at ICIS
.

The Five-Point Plan also recommends directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to convene industry and local governments to develop a national plastic recycling framework, in addition to conducting a study comparing impacts or raw materials to increase recycling channels , to collect and promote all materials
.

In 2020, only 12% of plastic in the U.
S.
was recycled, the rest was incinerated, exported or disposed of in landfills
.
According to research by ICIS Consulting, under current measures, the recycling rate of packaging can only reach 16% by mechanical recycling alone
.

Combining chemical and mechanical recycling, the recycling rate of plastic packaging could reach 30% by 2030 and 40% by 2040
.

Some brands have committed to voluntary targets to use at least 25% post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) in their packaging by 2025
.

“Supplies to achieve these goals remain limited, especially for high-quality food-grade recycled resins used in food and beverage packaging
.
Investments in collection and recycling capabilities are required to ensure availability and reliability
of supply,” Leardini said
.

ACC emphasises that scaling up chemical recycling will be key to increasing recycling volumes
.
This will allow more types of plastics to be recycled and expand the range of applications for recycled plastics, such as packaging for food, pharmaceutical and medical-grade products, which are limited under mechanical recycling
.

"These technologies and capabilities can help more than 400 global brands committed to using more recycled plastic in their packaging to achieve their circular business goals,
" Baca said.

The trade group's new proposal is in line with its two circular economy goals: 100 percent of plastic packaging in the U.
S.
will be recyclable or recyclable by 2030, and 100 percent of plastic packaging in the U.
S.
will be reused, recycled or recyclable by 2040 restore
.